One of Richmond’s airport hotels is stepping up to help people affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban on some Muslim nations.
Accent Inns, on St. Edward’s Drive near Highway 99 and Cambie Road, is offering free lodging to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) travellers from the Muslim-majority countries affected by Trump’s recent ban.
Although U.S. authorities have rolled back the controversial travel ban — after a judge temporarily suspended it — Accent Inns is standing by the offer it made last week, to provide free accommodation for up to three nights to travellers who have been stranded due to the travel ban.
The offer, said Accent Inns, will last for the 90 days that the original travel ban was supposed to be in place.
Upon check-in, travellers need to show the YVR airline ticket they were not able to use and a passport from the affected countries: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“We, at Accent Inns, are saddened by any sort of discrimination,” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns. “We want to take a stand for what’s right and help anyone who might be affected in our community. Accent Inns welcomes diversity, always.”
Accent Inn’s Vancouver Airport Hotel has a 24-hour, free shuttle service to YVR. Stranded travellers can use the courtesy phone in the baggage area of YVR to contact the hotel’s front desk.
Last week, the Richmond News reported that the uncertainty in the U.S., caused by Trump’s ban, forced McMath secondary to cancel a student trip to New York.
A parent told the News the school was concerned Muslim students and staff could find travel difficult under a stricter border vetting process. As well, the parent said active protests in New York may add to safety concerns.
McMath principal Neil Kamide said in a statement that the school needed to make the decision early to avoid families losing out financially, should the trip have to be cancelled nearer to the departure date.
“The staff involved in putting this trip together have concerns (which I share) about the current climate and the potential for further protests such as the ones already taking place in metropolitan centres in the United States, such as New York,” said Kamide.
“Taking students on an international trip involves staff taking on a great deal of responsibility.
“Even under normal conditions, sponsoring student travel is an extremely stressful endeavour for staff. It is not, as some believe, just a holiday. It is a 24/7 role with the staff members tasked with ensuring the safety of all students under their care.
“As the climate in parts of the U.S. is shifting and events and situations seem to be unfolding quickly, our staff currently feels uncomfortable in both moving forward with this trip, as well as waiting to see if the situation changes (as the financial implications of waiting are great).”
— With a file from Graeme Wood/Richmond News
