Boycotting Hyatt movement as CPAC conference chain grows
Gary Leff is 25 years old. February 2021.
Hotels host meetings and events and generally don’t control the messages that are shared or the people who gather at these meetings to ensure that they are aligned with the values of their average customer, the values of their strongest customer or the values of Twitter.
It becomes an issue from time to time, and apparently it becomes an issue relatively often for Hyatt (and, oddly enough, for the Hyatt Regency Orlando).
The late CEO of the Marriott, Arne Sorenson, stated that it was not his job to control the groups he led, nor the community in which he did so.
Just because they meet us and use our hotel doesn’t mean we support their point of view….. As a society, do we really want companies like Marriott and colleagues in our industry, among others, to pass judgment or have an opinion on the people who sit in our boardrooms? I shudder to think that we really expect my role or that of the Marriott to be to say that your opinions are unacceptable in our hotels and someone else’s are….
Mark Hoplamazian, CEO of Hyatt, takes a different view, saying that Hyatt bases these decisions on our values and that a group that focuses primarily on demeaning them based on their identity is not welcome.
No wonder Hiatt was called to the rescue. Orlando’s Hyatt Regency Airport hosted ACT For America, which the Southern Poverty Law Center (itself denounced) called an extremist and hateful anti-Muslim group. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Orlando hosted the Muslim Congress, where a Holocaust denier was on the program.
Today the hashtag #BoycottHyatt is causing a stir on Twitter because the Hyatt Regency Orlando is hosting CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference. Former President Trump will be on hand to speak. Recently, a Pizzagate conspiracy denying the existence of Jews was called disinformation.
@Hyatt @HyattConcierge @BoycottHyatt
they allow the super-spread event for CPAC. I was there in Orlando. Never. Never. Again. https://t.co/CVHKnGXJl4
– Miss J. Voice Blue! (@MsJVotesBlue) 24. February 2021
@Hyatt @HyattOrlando – Your hosting the #GOP for their rally clan is costing you money. Pay attention. #BoycottHyatt
– USAAdvocate (@Alyon_Advocate) 24. February 2021
HyattOrlando is setting this Congress on fire and providing a platform for America’s worst conspiracy theorists and serial liars.
– taradavi (@d_taradavi) 24. February 2021
Ironically, although a public company, Hyatt is controlled by the Pritzker family. J.B. Pritzker is the Democratic governor of Illinois. Penny Pritzker was President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce.
Again, some conservatives are unhappy with Hyatt and CPAC because Hyatt’s rules require guests to wear masks, even though there is no state or local requirement.
Someone should ask Governor DeSantis: Why are Orange County, Orlando, Hyatt Hotels (all doing good business during our night at CPAC) allowed to impose a militant mask order against their orders?
That’s what conservatives want to know. @davidwebbshow @KurtSchlichter
– Mike Ford (@MikeFor10394583) 24. February 2021
Freedom of speech only means something if it protects the speech you hate. There is no need to defend popular discourse.
Hyatt is not the government, it’s not the First Amendment, and I think they should have the right to choose who they work with and who hosts the conferences. At the same time, I think the First Amendment model is useful in terms of whether you should criticize someone who provides a platform or a stage.
People with whom we disagree should be able to meet, and we should be able to criticize them. Simply suppressing their expressions can easily backfire and cause groups to feel threatened and reinforce cohesion. And you could be the next beneficiary.
