AfD's Alexander Gauland No Longer Welcome at Longtime South Tyrol Hotel

The Hotel Elephant in Brixen cited complaints from guests and Gauland's political views as reasons for the decision.

Alexander Gauland, honorary chairman of the far-right AfD party in Germany, has been told he is no longer welcome at the Hotel Elephant in Brixen, South Tyrol, where he had been a regular guest for decades.
Hotel owner Elisabeth Heiss stated that Gauland’s political positions and complaints from other guests prompted the decision, citing the need to maintain a peaceful and inclusive environment.
Gauland was informed of the decision during his last stay in August 2024 and left the hotel after four days, though members of his family remain welcome at the establishment.
The hotel, run by the Heiss family since 1773, has a history of liberal values, with co-owner Hans Heiss previously serving as a Green Party lawmaker in the South Tyrolean parliament.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions in South Tyrol, with some praising the hotel's stance as a stand for inclusivity, while others criticized it as discriminatory against political beliefs.