West Hollywood, California (Monday, April 20, 2009) – Painting the West Hollywood Andaz with the broad brush of guilt by association, No On 8 activists trekked to the Sunset Strip last week to hold the brand new hotel “accountable” for its record on Same-Sex Marriage rights. 
Activists presenting demands that Hyatt Corporation sell the Andaz or the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego to the Andaz general manager in West Hollywood. by WeHo News. |
The genesis of the protest lies in the fact that the owner of the building that Hyatt Hotels operates in San Diego, Doug Manchester of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, (Hyatt owns and operates the newly-opened Andaz) gave Yes On 8 forces $125,000 in late spring last year.
The group wanted to cast the net of guilt by association – the San Diego Hyatt is suffering from a successful boycott and union protest actions - over the West Hollywood Sunset Strip Hyatt Andaz, which opened in January, 2009, and has no direct connection with the San Diego hotel.
The point of the press conference was, according to the group’s press release, to “expand the Hyatt Hypocrisy campaign, which is in full swing in San Diego, to Hyatt's Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood.”
West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran joined Tom Walsh, President, UNITE HERE Local 11 from San Diego, Cleve Jones (long-time gay activist) from San Francisco, Rick Jacobs of the Los Angeles Courage Campaign, John Cleary, President, Los Angeles Stonewall Democrats and Angeleno Lisa Powell from the local Organizing with America branch in condemning the association between the San Diego Hyatt and the Andaz and demanding the business connections between the two be severed and that Global Hyatt wade into California politics by publicly taking a No On 8 stance.
Severing business ties would mean that Global Hyatt choosing between leaving its San Diego location or selling the Andaz to an independent owner.
Activists demand that Hyatt Corporation sell the Andaz or the San Diego Hyatt to an independent owner to sever the tenuous business ties that exist between them. Photo by WeHo News. |
Tom Walsh said, “We are here to say that Hyatt Global Corporation is anti-gay, anti-worker and anti-equal rights.”
“We are here to expose and condemn Hyatt’s business relationship with Doug Manchester.”
He said the ad hoc group had two demands they would be presenting to the management of the Andaz.
”One: publicly take a stand and come out for marriage equality; two, sever all ties with Doug Manchester.”
Mr. Duran said that, although the Andaz was one of the good guys, “The Andaz does have a business relationship with the San Diego Hyatt.”
He asked that the California State Bar remove its upcoming convention scheduled to be held at the San Diego Hyatt.
At odds with the message of the day, the group’s press release defined the Hyatt as gay-friendly.
Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign demanding that Hyatt Andaz sever its ties with the San Diego Hyatt. Photo by WeHo News. |
“Hyatt has a history of inclusiveness and has received a long list of accolades from the LGBT community, including the Human Rights Campaign, Planet Out, Advocate Magazine and DiversityInc.com, for its commitment to diversity and as one of the most respected and admired companies among the LGBT community."
Employees at Hyatt properties are offered domestic partner benefits and Hyatt has a strong record of non-discriminatory policies in all Hyatt Hotels.”
The coalition is not calling for a boycott of the Andaz Hotel, but pledges to hold the Andaz and its owner and operator, The Hyatt Corporation, accountable for their relationship to Manchester.
Michel Morauw, the general manager of the Andaz, said of the demands presented to him in the hotel parking lot, “This is a real misunderstanding of the relationships between our hotels. We operate hotels all around the world, and we operate with the same values and respect [for gays and lesbians] all around the world.”
He said, “Doug Manchester is not talking for [Andaz]; we are talking for the Andaz.”
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