Hilton Hotels removing Minneapolis franchise location after denying DHS booking again

Core Viewpoint - Hilton Hotels announced the termination of its relationship with a franchise hotel in Minneapolis due to a video showing a desk clerk refusing service to a person claiming to be a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent, raising concerns about the hotel's adherence to Hilton's standards and values [1][3]. Company Actions - Hilton stated that the independent hotel owner, Everpeak Hospitality, had previously apologized for canceling reservations for real DHS agents, asserting that such actions were inconsistent with their welcoming policy [2][12]. - Following the video incident, Hilton emphasized immediate action to remove the hotel from its systems and reiterated its commitment to being a welcoming place for all [3][12]. - Hilton is engaging with all franchisees to reinforce the standards expected across its system to prevent similar incidents in the future [3]. Incident Details - The incident was highlighted by a video posted by journalist Nick Sortor, where a clerk at the Hampton Inn Lakeview Minneapolis confirmed a policy of not accepting reservations from DHS agents, despite the hotel's prior apology [4][5]. - The clerk indicated a lack of awareness regarding any policy changes, stating that the management had not communicated any updates [4][5]. Industry Context - The situation has drawn attention amid broader criticisms of the Somali community in Minneapolis by the Trump administration, which has linked them to various frauds against federal programs [8]. - The DHS has publicly criticized Hilton for the actions of the Everpeak property, claiming that the hotel was actively refusing service to DHS law enforcement [11].