UANI Calls on Royal Tulip Hotel, Golden Tulip Hospitality, Accor Hotels to Reverse Decision to Host Iran's Ahmadinejad and Delegation this Week in Brazil

June 19, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2012
Contact: Nathan Carleton, [email protected]
Phone: (212) 554-3296

UANI Calls on Royal Tulip Hotel, Golden Tulip Hospitality, Accor Hotels to Reverse Decision to Host Iran's Ahmadinejad and Delegation this Week in Brazil

New York, NY - On Tuesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Brazil's Royal Tulip Rio de Janeiro Hotel (Royal Tulip), of France-based Golden Tulip Hospitality Group (Golden Tulip), to reverse its decision to host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his delegation during this week's meeting of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UANI also called on the Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont hotel of the Accor Hotels Group and the Hotel Praia Ipanema to reverse their decision to host Iran's delegation this week.

UANI recently learned of these hotels' irresponsible decision, and asked them to immediately reverse it, or otherwise risk the consequences of a boycott of their properties.

In a letter sent June 18, 2012 to Hans Kennedie, President & CEO of Golden Tulip, and George Durante, General Manager of the Royal Tulip, UANI Executive Director, David Ibsen, wrote:

... Ahmadinejad's trip also comes as the international community is working to economically and diplomatically isolate the Iranian regime for its illicit nuclear program, egregious human rights violations and state sponsorship of terrorism. The Golden Tulip is therefore exposing itself to serious reputational and financial harm by hosting the Iranian regime. In the past, hotels have received widespread scorn for hosting Ahmadinejad and other Iranian regime officials. In fact, hundreds of Brazilians have already rallied on Sunday to protest Ahmadinejad's attendance at the Rio+20 Conference.

Golden Tulip is exposed to reputational and financial risk given its business in the United States and with the U.S. government. Golden Tulip has received ample lodging business from the U.S. government-in particular the U.S. Department of Defense. UANI is prepared to launch a worldwide campaign and boycott Golden Tulip properties if they persist in this behavior.

Please be advised that as a result of your plans to host Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation, UANI will also list Golden Tulip on its Iran Business Registry (IBR), a database of corporations that conduct business in or with Iran.

UANI sent similar letters to: Denis Hennequin, Chairman and CEO of Accor Hotels; Ronaldo Grapiglia, General Manager of the Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont; and Carlos Goncalves, General Manager of Hotel Praia Ipanema.

Significantly, Accor North America operates more than 1,100 properties in the U.S. and Canada, including those of its brand chains Motel 6, Studio 6, Sofitel and Novotel. Accor has also received extensive lodging business from the U.S. government-in particular the U.S. Department of Defense.

Click here to read UANI's full letter to the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group and Royal Tulip Rio de Janeiro.
Click here to read UANI's letter to Accor Hotels and Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont.
Click here to read UANI's letter to the Hotel Praia Ipanema.
Click here to send a message to the hotels.
Click here to visit UANI's Hotels Campaigns page.

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