No jokes please, we are Hilton UK and you will be banned for life.

[markis10]

WHEN Jason Payne returned home after his one-night stay at the Hilton in Basingstoke, UK, he was surprised to receive an email from the hotel informing him that he had been banned for life.

It was all because of a rather inappropriate comment he’d made on the hotel’s online booking form three days prior to his February 8 stay at the hotel.
Mr Payne, 35, wrote under the additional comments and requests section on the form: “There’s a large snake in my trousers. Hope that’s OK.”

Jason Payne’s joke got him banned for life from Hilton Basingstoke Hotel | News.com.au

 

[Deleted member]

Thats just plain showing off !

 

[TomVexille]

I can see where the hotel is coming from

 

[markis10]

I think there is more to the story, not sure why you would put such a comment and I also feel the response was over the top.

 

[Happy Trails]

Hilton does seem to have taken a rather one-eyed view of the snake comment.

 

[Flying Fox]

A working title for the sequel to Snakes on Planes ???

 

[anat0l]

I can see where the hotel is coming from

The key is that the property was in the UK. Whether or not the UK has similar sensitivities in relation to exposure of employees to that kind of talk as in the US, I don't know. (I suppose beyond the sensitivities in the US, such a comment could be the foundation for sexual harassment).

On the other hand, I suppose if someone says they have a snake, whether it was the "one" down there or really it was one being smuggled down there, that would have to be a bit of cause for concern?

I think there is more to the story, not sure why you would put such a comment and I also feel the response was over the top.

Well most people put a comment in like that 'cos they want to be silly. On the other hand, how often do you get asked on the check-in form whether you have any pets or not - perhaps the person was bemused by the question so decided to take the mickey.

The property is entitled to do whatever they want. I'm sure they won't lose many or any customers over it (except the person in question), although they may find they'll have a lot more straight shooters from here on in. And maybe less snakes.

I have to admit I wouldn't be brave enough to make a joke like that. Only because it's quite a crude one... and if it's something you have to write down on a form which you sign and will be filed away, that's just awkward.

 

[Ansett]

LOL

I will be in Basingstoke in a few weeks and believe you me they have no sense of humour. Many of my child hood years were spent in Basingstoke AKA "BORINGSTOKE" LOL

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hilton does seem to have taken a rather one-eyed view of the snake comment.

The manager "Catherin Wurst" has probably heard her fair share of puerile genital jokes

 

[Happy Trails]

Curiously enough, Basingstoke is an anagram of 'snake bigots'.

 

[markis10]

On the other hand, I suppose if someone says they have a snake, whether it was the "one" down there or really it was one being smuggled down there, that would have to be a bit of cause for concern?

It was nothing to do with any pets request, just a silly comment in the normal additional comments box.

 

[Hvr]

And if an employee was offended by the remark and the employer had failed to deal with it at the earliest opportunity then they (the employer) would be liable for failing to prevent harassment in the workplace.

Similar laws apply in Australia as well.

By banning the customer they can demonstrate that they have taken the matter seriously and any liability is solely the responsibility of the person who has offended the employee.

 

[boomy]

To ban someone for life just because he made a silly comment is an impulsive and hysterical reaction by the hotel.
I wish Hilton would take the more "normal" comments left by customers as seriously as they treated this one.

 

[anat0l]

To ban someone for life just because he made a silly comment is an impulsive and hysterical reaction by the hotel.
I wish Hilton would take the more "normal" comments left by customers as seriously as they treated this one.

The "normal" comments won't necessarily get the property sued, I guess.

I also wish people who made "silly" comments at airports and on board were actually subjected to bans (or rather, imprisonment) which this property was not afraid at all to dish out.

 

[boomy]

I also wish people who made "silly" comments at airports and on board were actually subjected to bans (or rather, imprisonment) which this property was not afraid at all to dish out.

If you are talking about people who make bomb threats at airports then I agree they should be subjected to bans because it's a matter of public security. A silly comment like the one JP made on the Hilton website is not in the same category.

 

[TomVexille]

And if an employee was offended by the remark and the employer had failed to deal with it at the earliest opportunity then they (the employer) would be liable for failing to prevent harassment in the workplace.

Similar laws apply in Australia as well.

By banning the customer they can demonstrate that they have taken the matter seriously and any liability is solely the responsibility of the person who has offended the employee.

Basically. It's entirely up to the person reading the comment as to whether the comment is offensive or not.

 

[DC3]

Exactly. Is the person who reads it going to be offended? That's the catch.

 

[tuapekastar]

He deserves the ban as much for how infantile the 'joke' was as for the offence it may have caused (i can be as infantile as anyone else, but only to selected friends who are as infantile as me). Life ban may be OTT, but I support the hotel in taking action.

 

[drron]

stopping at a few HH properties in the UK in june.I promise not to tell any jokes.

 

[anat0l]

stopping at a few HH properties in the UK in june.I promise not to tell any jokes.

In that case, you'd better not post the room service prices.