Overview
- Two Brews used Booking.com to prepay two double rooms, spending over £200 including a £50 damage deposit per room, to get the men indoors during sub-zero conditions.
- At the Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road, a receptionist told the pair he would not check them in and referred to what he described as a company policy against people "from the street."
- After the refusal, the charity secured accommodation at a nearby Travelodge, which also took in other rough sleepers that night, according to local reports.
- IHG said the decision was not in keeping with its policy of welcoming all, issued an apology to the guests, and pledged to strengthen internal staff training.
- Callum Donaghey, 30, identified himself as one of the men turned away and said the treatment made him feel "so small" as temperatures in Manchester fell to about -6C under an amber cold-weather alert.