Hilton-brand hospitality has come under scrutiny after a Minnesota hotel declined to accommodate federal immigration enforcement agents earlier this month, leading to a formal apology from both the local hotel operators and Hilton corporate representatives. The incident unfolded at the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, located approximately 20 miles south of Minneapolis, where officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported cancellations of room reservations made by immigration agents.
The DHS publicly shared screenshots from a Hilton email dated Friday indicating that agents engaged in immigration enforcement were prohibited from staying at the property, with their bookings cancelled. Along with the shared images, DHS accused the Hilton hotel chain of a coordinated effort to undermine law enforcement activities by denying lodging to its employees.
While Hampton Inn properties operate under the Hilton umbrella, they are predominantly managed by independent franchisees. A Hilton representative clarified that the Lakeville location is independently operated and does not function directly under corporate control. Following the controversy, Hilton released a statement affirming direct communication with the hotel, which apologized for its team’s actions that diverged from official policies.
"We have been in direct contact with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team, which was not in keeping with their policies," the Hilton statement said, emphasizing that the refusal did not reflect standard operational protocols.
The management company operating the Hampton Inn Lakeville, Everpeak Hospitality, also responded to the allegations. In their statement, they acknowledged the cancellation was inconsistent with their hospitality principles and policies, describing themselves as a welcoming establishment for all guests. Everpeak confirmed they promptly engaged with the individuals who were denied accommodation to resolve the situation and reaffirmed their commitment to non-discrimination.
"Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all," their statement noted. "We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated. We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted."
The event highlights complexities faced by hospitality providers affiliated with global brands but operated locally under franchise agreements, especially when addressing sensitive law enforcement engagements. The agents involved were on official assignments concerning immigration enforcement, and the interruption of their lodging arrangements drew attention from federal authorities.
This episode underscores the necessity for clear and consistent communication between franchisors, franchisees, and law enforcement entities to avoid operational mishaps that could impact enforcement activities and public perceptions.