As a frequent guest at Choice Hotels, I was excited to stay at the number 1 rated hotel in the chain. All was well when my girlfriend and I checked in. We were warmly greeted by the hotel clerk and the room was nice with a Welcome Robert written on the mirror and a candy on the bedspread and the hand towels artfully wrapped. The mattress was on the hard side. Then it happened. I left early morning to drive to meetings in downtown LA. My girlfriend went down for breakfast an hour later. When she returned to the room, the key no longer worked. When she asked for a new key, they refused, saying she was not a registered guest. She did not have her cell phone or purse with ID, so she could not call me. They allowed her to borrow the phone to call me, but I was driving, so I didn't answer. The phone rang again, so I pulled off the next exit to call the Ontario number back. My girlfriend told me the hotel had grabbed the phone back from her and told her she would have to wait in the lobby until I called back or returned to the hotel. I returned the call and said I allow her in our room. That was not good enough. I asked if I could email them permission do they would have it in writing. THAT wasn't...As a frequent guest at Choice Hotels, I was excited to stay at the number 1 rated hotel in the chain. All was well when my girlfriend and I checked in. We were warmly greeted by the hotel clerk and the room was nice with a Welcome Robert written on the mirror and a candy on the bedspread and the hand towels artfully wrapped. The mattress was on the hard side.

Then it happened. I left early morning to drive to meetings in downtown LA. My girlfriend went down for breakfast an hour later. When she returned to the room, the key no longer worked. When she asked for a new key, they refused, saying she was not a registered guest. She did not have her cell phone or purse with ID, so she could not call me. They allowed her to borrow the phone to call me, but I was driving, so I didn't answer. The phone rang again, so I pulled off the next exit to call the Ontario number back. My girlfriend told me the hotel had grabbed the phone back from her and told her she would have to wait in the lobby until I called back or returned to the hotel. I returned the call and said I allow her in our room. That was not good enough. I asked if I could email them permission do they would have it in writing. THAT wasn't good enough. They told me I had to fax a letter authorizing entry to our room , along with a copy of my credit card and driver license, both front and back in order for her to enter. I asked to speak with my girlfriend to tell her i was working on fixing the problem, and then found a FedEx Office. I sent the requested information, resulting in me being late for my meeting. My girlfriend nor I were ever offered any apology. Do you think this would have happened if she were white? I don't think so... Needless to say, we will not be returning to this hotel due to their ridiculous discriminatory practices. They have not heard the last fromm...More