A front desk agent at a Holiday Inn could have done their job, checking in a guest, but decided instead to disappear for a bit, come back angry, then refuse to serve guests who’d been waiting – telling them they should just “go back to Mexico.” When they’re Hawaiian.
Guests say they arrived to find others already waiting in the lobby with no one at the front desk and no employee anywhere. After “some time” with no agent in sight, the front desk clerk finally reappeared.
Video picks up mid-argument. The front desk agent is already yelling when the clip starts:
“9 o’clock and I was here. Stupid.”
“F- you. You stupid.”
I’m not checking you or nothing. Check in somewhere else. Bye.”
“Go back to Mexico.”
This couple went to check into room at a Holiday Inn & the receptionist was no where to be found so they waited & when she came back she was upset they told her they had been waiting so she called them numerous names & then told them to go back to Mexico & they’re Hawaiian! pic.twitter.com/Lfilp9Kr9J
— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) November 30, 2025
The guests fire back that they’re Hawaiian, several times. Her answer: “Go back to Hawaii then.” She also calls them “Mexican, bitch” and “fat bitch,” repeats that she’s not checking them in, and tells them to go somewhere else because “you’ll get your money back.”
The couple says the stay was prepaid and they just wanted their room. Instead they get “I’m not doing nothing, bitch… I’m not talking to you in any way,” and refusing to touch their reservation at all. They were “evicted just 10 minutes later” once they challenged the agent and hit record, they were out of the hotel and on their own for a room somewhere else.
This isn’t the only Holiday Inn racism clip this month. In Corpus Christi, Texas, Mexican comedian Liliana “La Chupitos” Arriaga posted video of staff at a Holiday Inn Express threatening to call ICE on her family and saying “I’m not illegal like you.”
The story reminds me of two American Asian men denied check-in to an Indiana hotel in February 2020 because the clerk thought they might be Chinese (they were Hmong) and therefore could have the new coronavirus. This was before a U.S. Covid death had been known to have occurred.
So,….if they were really Mexican it would have been alright?
Rude behavior is inexcusable…no matter who is the recipient. Sounds like the front desk clerk should find another line of work. One where they don’t come into contact with people.
I hope the receptionist gets fired. She shouldn’t be in the hospitality business.
Obviously, the front desk clerk’s behavior is completely unacceptable, but unless she’s a complete nut-case (and therefore unlikely to be employed) there is more to the story than what appears on that video. There almost always is. Never jump to conclusions, even if it’s good for clicks.
You get what you paid for. If Holiday Inn doesn’t want to invest in their employees (by paying a higher wage to attract higher-quality candidates), these are the results you’ll get from an unqualified person being paid minimum wage.
I fear this is the mood of a nation in trouble. The clerk has no place in what used to be hospitality. Struggling to find any excuse for this behavior.
“Those who do not learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.” – Santayana
The election of 1876 was the only presidential election that was decided by Congress. The country was deeply divided, and hatreds were inflammed. The compromise reached in Congress was to declare Rutherford Hayes R-OH) the winner over Samuel Tildon (D-NY), but on the condition that Reconstruction in the former Confederate states would be ended
This was widely interpreted as permission from Washington to hate and discriminate. “Jim Crow” laws were enacted throughout the South. Anti-black, anti-semitic and anti-Catholic actions were openly tolerated and sanctioned.
The same thing is happening today. We’ve seen spurious claims of Haitians eating pets in Ohio made by candidates for national office. Lying, hate speech and violent actions are condoned and encouraged by federal and state government officials. Is it any wonder that the behavior in this article is more normal than aberrant, and certainly not condemned?
America was founded on the principle that everyone is created equal, and is equal in the eyes of the law. Hate – based on race, religion, origin, sex or sexual preference – must have no home here.
I don’t patronize businesses that still have these plexiglass hysteria partition things.
Agree with previous post, regarding staff: you get what you pay for. I too have encountered unmanned reception desk at IGH properties. Hope the travelers get a refund.
Unmanned reception desks are not unique to IHG. Racist employees are not unique to IHG.
For all who say there is a backstory here, there is no backstory that makes the actions of this employee acceptable. Unless she was physically assaulted, her language and demeanor are unacceptable.
As for people demanding IHG pay better wages to attract better employees you seem to forget that IHG is a business. To make the financials work at a HIE you can’t pay employees what they’d make at a Ritz-Carlton. Even if you could, higher pay does not correlate with better service.
Walking into the lobby and finding the front desk behind a plexiglass screen, or worse yet bullet proof glass, means you should immediately call your Uber ride back! Seems a call to IHG main reservations for a refund and telling them you don’t consider medium or high risk detention facilities suitable lodging, even if it is upscale lodging for Detroit and Memphis.
What is tbe name and location of this Holiday Inn so we can avoid staying there.
Where was this? It’s tough for readers to avoid if we don’t know the location. Otherwise, what’s the point of posting this, rage bait?
Again, for the 1000th time hotel chains mostly franchised despite the name outside. Hotel chains make their money by selling franchisees not running hotels. Hotel chains often have no control over their franchisee partners. And they don’t care to.
“3 things I never lends: my name, my hoss &my wife”
Thank you, @Maryland, @Retired Lawyer, and @Parker for covering what matters. And, @Ken A and @Christian for asking the real question.
Yet, @OneTrippe just had to throw shade at ‘those’ particular cities… *dog whistle*
This isn’t surprising as I got nailed by Holiday Inn in Ventura, CA. They added a $138 fee which would be refunded by mail but never happened. My final bill for one night was over $400.
And that my folks, is why I quit staying at IHG Properties. Too many ghetto properties with horrible staff members. Even as a Sapphire/Diamond Elite using my IHG Chase Card, I would have a terrible experience, 9 out of 10 times and never got to use my points or “benefits”, when wanted/needed. Hilton treats me 100x better, has properties that are in much better condition, provides better and usable member benefits, and I like their AmEx Card better to boot!
Did she get promoted? The way things are going now, she will probably get a raise & promoted.
Thank God for the social media, even her Family will have nothing to do with her,otherwise they will also get swept in the rants.
IHG, right? Only the very best people to restock yesterday’s muffins as tomorrow “just brought out today”.
If you don’t like it go back to your womb. [say out loud]
As our education system is methodically dismantled, we can look forward to producing more Neanderthals like this clerk (my apologies for the to any real Neanderthals reading this).
And when the only people who will work for low wages like this are Neanderthals (see above apology), that just makes it worse.
That is not a Hawaiian. – from a real Hawaiian. We call those popolos here. Lets not hang that sign on our native people. If they live in Hawaii because they are in the military (just a guess) then they are people who currently live in Hawaii. But I’d bet my kids she aint Hawaiian in any sense of the word. As far as the clerk, fire immediately.
Beware of 2 star joints. New or old, there’s always something.
I question the validity of the incident when no location is even mentioned. Correct and true reporting should include the “five W’s” and give the reader all the info,
The Trump Era.