Social media accounts of Dorchester Collection hotels shut down

Personal abuse directed at the staff of Dorchester Collection hotels has led to the closure of the group's social media accounts.

The action follows the call by actor George Clooney for the boycott of the company's nine global hotels in protest at strict Islamic laws introduced this week in Brunei that make gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death.

Dorchester Collection is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultan of Brunei. The company was previously hit by a boycott by prominent members of the fashion, media and travel industries following the implementation by the Sultan of a series of harsh Islamic laws in 2014.

In a statement, Dorchester Collection said that the company is "an inclusive and diverse company and does not tolerate any form of discrimination" and added: "Although we believe in an open and transparent communication, we have reluctantly deactivated our hotel social pages due to the personal abuse directed at our employees for whom we have a duty of care.

"Dorchester Collection's Code emphasises equality, respect and integrity in all areas of our operation, and strongly values people and cultural diversity amongst our guests and employees".

The company said that it understood people anger and frustration, but explained that the issue was a political and religious one that "we don't believe should be played out in our hotels and amongst our 3,650 employees… Our values are far removed from the politics of ownership.

"We are a team of people representing 67 nationalities, who love what we do and care enormously for our guests and communities."

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