Romanian Alexandru Hegi, whose case gained wide publicity after he was refused a stay at a hotel in Tilburg, Holland, because of his nationality, says he received a message from booking platform Booking saying it had stopped working with the hotel.

In addition, the accommodation unit can no longer be found when searching on a well-known hospitality booking platform, News.ro notes.

“Today there was a small victory, although extremely bitter. Booking.com has removed the property’s name from its site pending an investigation. In addition, the anti-discrimination office in the Netherlands is conducting its own investigation,” Alexandru Hegi wrote on Facebook.

The Romanian posted a message he claims he received from the online booking platform, expressing regret for the “terrible experience” the tourist had.

In a message published by Hegyi, Booking clarifies that it has suspended the operation of the hotel on the website and does not agree with such behavior of Booking’s partners, customers or staff. The platform says it will refund the Romanian the amount of 104.5 euros he paid for one night’s stay.

The booking platform sent a message to the Romanian tourist after he wrote and complained about his experience, given that the booking was made through Booking.com.

Romanian Alexandru Hegi booked a hotel in the Dutch city of Tilburg through the Booking platform, but he was contacted by the hotel’s representatives and informed that the reservation was canceled due to his nationality.

Alexandru Hegi is a research scientist working in the field of archeology at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and currently living in Kyoto, Japan.

In response to Europa FM’s inquiry, Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had referred itself to the situation, and the Romanian Embassy in The Hague had asked Tilburg City Hall and the hotel to cancel the Romanian citizen’s reservation.

Alexandru Hegi had to stay in another city, but he told us he made several reports, including to the Dutch anti-discrimination agency, which is now conducting a thorough investigation.

(article photo: © Dmitry Kalinovsky | Dreamstime.com)