An international hotel chain has issued a fulsome apology after being accused of “everyday sexism” on its premises at Aberdeen Airport.
A sign in the Marriott Hotel’s bar portrayed a drawing of a man with the caption “No Shirt – No Service” and a woman with the words “No Shirt – Free Beer”.
That prompted a complaint from Aberdenshire East MSP Gillian Martin, who was alerted to the situation by a constituent and described the sign as “offensive and appalling”.
And yesterday, a senior Marriott official confirmed the offending signage had been removed.
Morten Skumsrud, the vice-president of Franchise Operations Europe, told Mrs Martin in a letter: “We deeply apologise for any embarrassment and upset this incident has caused you, your constituents and the general public.
“The hotel immediately removed the sign and has taken steps internally, including a review and re-training on our diversity and equality policy, to ensure all guests are treated equally and with respect.
“As a company, we strive to be the industry benchmark for diversity and inclusion and work hard to ensure that all guests, customers, partners and associates are valued and respected.
“Please rest assured that we do not tolerate any discriminatory behaviour.”
Despite her disappointment at the initial sign, the organisation’s quick reaction to tackling criticism was praised by Mrs Martin.
She said: “I was pleased with Marriott’s swift response to the sign at Aberdeen International Airport.
“It is clear they understand the offence it has caused to people and will be taking necessary steps to educate their staff in the future.
“This also makes it clear why members of the public should not be afraid to call out examples of everyday sexism when they see it.
“In doing so, we can affect real change and prevent it from continuing in the future.
“In the past six months, we have seen huge strides in the #MeToo movement and women being more able to talk about sexual discrimination in all its forms.”