Sep 04 2008
American Amusements?? NOT Amusing!
Whoa. Is this an American owned business?
A wounded British soldier home from Afghanistan on sick leave was forced to spend the night in his car after a hotel refused him a room.
Corporal Tomos Stringer was told by staff at Metro Hotel, in Woking, that it was company policy not to accept members of the armed forces as guests. The 24-year-old had traveled to the Surrey town to help with funeral preparations for a friend killed in action.
It was so late that Cpl Stringer, who had broken his wrist jumping off an Army truck as it was attacked, had no choice but to sleep in his tiny, two-door car, arm covered in plaster.
WTF?
Cpl Stringer, of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, has now returned to Afghanistan, but his mother, Gaynor Stringer, from Criccieth, north Wales, told The Times that she is still furious about the incident.
“I’m very, very angry. It’s discrimination. They would never get away with it if it was against someone of ethnic origin,” she said.
She said they had received neither an apology nor an explanation from the hotel, which is part of a family entertainment center called The Big Apple and owned by a company called American Amusements.
I’m not amused. I’m sure there is more to this than we get here, but please tell me this isn’t an American owned business, with a real policy that denies Military members as guests. Or at least justify to me WHY such a policy should be in place?
***UPDATE 9/5/08***
LONDON, Sept. 4 — A British hotel apologized Thursday to a soldier refused lodging by a desk clerk who told him the hotel had a “no military personnel” policy.
[...]
After the incident was reported in the British media Thursday, hotel officials issued a statement saying the clerk had made a “mistake.”“The hotel management has always had an open door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and armed forces, and will continue to do so,” the statement said. “On this particular occasion there was a mistake made by a duty receptionist and the hotel management sincerely apologizes for that mistake.”
In a letter of explanation to a member of Parliament who inquired about the incident, a hotel official said the hotel had “experienced some rather serious incidents” involving military personnel. He said desk clerks had been told to be “cautious” about renting rooms to soldiers.
In a letter of explanation to a member of Parliament who inquired about the incident, a hotel official said the hotel had “experienced some rather serious incidents” involving military personnel. He said desk clerks had been told to be “cautious” about renting rooms to soldiers.
Uh huh…so the clerk made a mistake even though the company says they’ve had “trouble” with members of the military in the past. WhatEVAH. They apologized and I bet no soldiers get turned away again.
39 Responses to “American Amusements?? NOT Amusing!”
Raven,
Here is one link concerning the American Amusements Ltd. Basically describes the company as:
Also, the company has called the incident a “mistake”. Yeah, I bet. It probably has more to do with the backlash they have received than anything else.
And here is a great round-up here at the Wondering Brit!
Just proves there are assholes everywhere.
I’m not sure about this, but they may be part of the Synxis Hotel Group
I find that hotel to be Offensive To Muslims.
Off with their heads!!
:ptbaa:
I have tried several searches to discover whether this is an American company to no avail. I can’t even find a webpage for the hotel or the amusement park, though I have found several entries in directories and travelbooks. It may be that they have taken down the websites.
Now that it is known in US the backlash will be huge! If anyone discovers more about this company and any parent company or investors please post ASAP. Not only have they hurt our ally and a member of the multi-national forces engaged in Afghanistan, they have done so in the name of America. I am personally offended.
It sounds as though a local barracks provides a source of possible income for the games and amusements but also an occasional “uncomfortable” situation - I am assuming it is related to alcohol. I suggest this company try working with the base commanders to establish a relationship with the soldiers that provides profit to the company, amusement and outlet for soldiers, and a positive community service for the area. If British military bases are anything like American bases, the command structure through to the grunts identify service to the local community as a mission for the base. Rather than prohibit or review at the manager’s discretion, perhaps this business should look for the highest possible outcome - higher profits from more military dollars spent at the facility and reduced cost from distructive behaviors checked through a base command partnership.
Let’s find out who is behind this!
It’s the big news in the UK today & rightly so!.
I found a link at http://www.metrotravelguide.com Type in Woking into the city name field & you see the hotel Forgive me for saying it but this looks like a US company ????? I Guess the UK company is a subsidiary????
It is a large company 17 million in revenue with a large number of subsidiaries.
American Amusements Ltd.
23 Hinton Road
Bournemouth
Dorset, BH1 2EF, England
United Kingdom (Map)
Phone: +44-01932-351345
Fax: +44-01202-201565
Parent The Linde Group
Parent Boc America Holdings
Company Secretary Duncan G Moss
Director Michael R Appleton
Apparently the hotel have a had a huge amount of abusive phone calls - funny that!
Suggest everyone tell all their friends about this company and urge them to boycott. If you have a website, post the info about this story on it. I think 99.9% of Americans support all our allies in the war on terror that it seems the entire world is having to deal with now.
Heck, I posted on my site at around 11:15 am BST and by 13:00 I had over 300 hits on it.
I hope someone can come up with a web site for this company or its parent company so some smart hacker can bring it down.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen fresh hate mail. It’s beautiful.
Code of Ethics Statement copied from The Linde Group website:
“Code of Ethics
Approved by the Executive Board in June 2007, the Code of Ethics is structured to reflect the topics which are most important when dealing with our main stakeholder groups. These have been defined as our customers, suppliers and markets, our shareholders, employees and the communities we live and work in.
The Linde Code of Ethics is a guide to help employees understand the standards of conduct that Linde sees as fundamental to honouring its commitment to performance with integrity. It helps Linde achieve compliance by establishing a common standard of behaviour required of all employees across the organisation. It will help us to ensure that our good reputation will be maintained as well as our relationships with our stakeholders.
The code applies to all employees, directors and officers. Linde will seek to influence and encourage its business partners to adopt these standards.
All group companies and subsidiaries which Linde controls or has managing control of must observe the Linde Code of Ethics. In joint ventures where Linde does not have control, Linde will seek to influence and encourage its joint venture partner to adopt the standards set out in the Linde Code of Ethics. ”
Here is a link on the Linde website where customers can report violations of the code of ethics and unseemly behaviour on the part of it or the companies it controls. I think I will register a complaint. A giant international company will not enjoy the public association to this teensy company.
The Linde Group Integrity Line Portal
delete the website from the previous post and put it in the weblocation. I didn’t realize it would look so stupid. Thanks.
Link fixed -CT
As a vietnam Vet, I found this appalling. My heart goes out to this soldier and his family. Thank God for our troops.
Looks like this company is getting the just fruits of their choice - assuming the story is accurate. I sure hope the information is correct; I’d hate to see this become another example of the internet rumor mill injuring an innocent party.
But if the story is correct, then this company rightly is going to feel the wrath of the American citizenry.
I Googled American Amusements and I too don’t get any matches here in the USA. I’m hoping that the company info stated by the other poster on this site is correct. This establishment should certainly be boycotted. The employee’s actions and/or the company’s policy is disgusting. It breaks my heart to read that a UK soldier was treated this way. I love the British people and British soldiers and are deeply greatful for their partnership in fighting terrorism and spreading freedom. I may be an American of Italian heritage but the UK is my ‘motherland’, no doubt about it. God Bless this soldier and the family of his departed comrade.
To be honest, I can’t remember a time when we weren’t fighting terror in the UK. It’s sounds weird, but we’re very used to it. BUT, to hear of something like this fills me with so much rage, but sadly does not shock me.
I can’t find any American connection, American Amusements is part of American Holdings which is all under the Linde Group, (looks like a gas and engineering company) - here is a link to the 2007 annual report
The Linde Group 2007 Annual Report
First, CT is spot on - the story has to be verified.
Second, IF true, the parent American company must be made to pay dearly. How? Flood them with protest letters and e-mails, but more importantly let them know you will not do business with them or any of their subsidiaries. Money talks, and any CEO knows that in a case like this money can scream.
But again, first verify.
here is the Metro/Big Apple web site with all locations…
http://www.metrohotel.co.uk/en/1/locations.html
Linde AG
Abraham-Lincoln-Strasse 21
65189 Wiesbaden
Germany
Phone +49.611.770-0
Fax +49.611.770-269
E-mail info@linde.de
This is not an American OWNED company, but one that borrows on the good name of it and fails to live up to it. The following is excerpts that show the Primary holders are all Brits. They should be ashamed how they are portraying another country, thier service poeple, and by thier actions.
LINK: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7043770_ITM
ARTICLE TITLE & COMPANY DATA:
Let me entertain you: Michael Appleton discusses his ambitions for the Big Apple entertainment centre concept with Mel Flaherty.(Profile)(American Amusements)
Publication: Leisure Report
Publication Date: 01-MAY-04
Author: Flaherty, Mel
Michael Appleton
Age: 44
CAREER HISTORY
1997-present Managing director, American Amusements
1997-1998 Chief executive, Hull City AFC and Hull Sharks RLFC
1993-1997 Operations director, Invicta Leisure (Tennis)
1992-present Managing director, South of England Leisure (majority shareholder in American Amusements)
1988-1992 Deputy managing director, David Lloyd Leisure
1981-1988 Manager, project finance, Schroders
Contact Metro Hotels:
http://www.metrohotel.co.uk/en/1/contactmetro.html
American Amusements website (nothing there now):
http://www.americanamusements.co.uk/
Web email to the hotel , rats nest .
http://www.metrohotel.co.uk/en/1/contactmetro.html
WOWOWOW….thanks for all the feedback on this! I wasn’t expecting THIS much…and I’m grateful this wasn’t an American business. The backlash factor is working, appearently.
More than likely a muslem import. I can’t imagine a British citizen denying a place for a hero to sleep. Unless the have fallen under the spell of the Islamofacist. Please Britian and France WAKE up you are be :91101: ing invaded right under your noses.
I have sent the hotel a blast, calling for the immediate firing of the hotel general manager and the clerk involved in this disgrace to Briton. I will forward to all my friends the article and links on your site for further action.
If I can find a list of linde corp. products and subsidurys I will be sure to never buy or sell to any of them. This is in insult of the highest kind to all freedom loving people.
I feel the shame of Great Briton of having these people in their midst.
Perhaps your veterans groups will make the life of this hotel short lived by their responses and actions. If no one does anything to those responsible, it will happen again.
Upon reading the news story, I was immediately upset. As a veteran having served on many a multinational force, I came to realize as an American, I could, without reservation, entrust my own life in the hands of any British, Australian, or Canadian soldier. As they have always been there for us, I would hope that we would have the dignity to always be there for them. I stand with this soldier, and have no problem announcing that. I took the time to make that clear to the Linde group. Regardless of if it does any good, I felt it necessary to make my dissatisfaction known.
I was shocked when a friend of mine pointed me to this website where others shared similar sentiments. I honestly believed I was the last true, loyal American. Thanks for showing me I was wrong.
To the person who questioned if it was a hoax, no it is not. To the person who thought it was due to an unruly base in the area, if you read the article, this soldier wasn’t even from Woking. He was there to help with funeral arrangements of a fellow soldier who was killed in combat.
The Hotel is part of the Linde Group a European multinational. They have a U.S. complaint/issues line 1-877-533-5310. I encourage any fellow americans to call and express their outrage…
The initial story I read was in the London Times online edition, which said that American Amusements Ltd. had been forced to issue a “grovelling apology” for its action.
However, it quotes the apology directly as saying, “The Metro Hotel, Woking, sincerely regrets any upset caused towards Corporal Stringer and his family . . . The hotel management has always had an open-door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and Armed Forces.”
That is NOT a “grovelling apology.” It’s not even an APOLOGY.
An apology would be if they stated regret for THEIR ACTION. I.e., “We apologize that we REFUSED SERVICE to our nation’s soldier.” NOT, “We regret that people are upset by our action.”
The very mention that the company regrets that people got upset implies that those people are wrong to react.
They are responsible for their action, not for someone else’s response to their action. The very fact that they use the passive voice for “an apology” should have been the first red flag for them.
Despite their names, they appear to both be UK companies:
American Amusements Ltd
1 Crown Square
Woking
GU21 6HR
Big Apple can be contacted at:
http://www.laserquest-thebigapple.co.uk/en/1/contact.html
Here is a complete list of their toll free numbers
Argentina0800 6662603
Australia1800 121 889
Austria0800 281700
Belgium0800 71025
Brazil0800 891 8807
Bulgaria00800 1104474
Canada1888 268 5816
Chile12300200412
China (a)10800 441 0078
Colombia01800 944 4796
Croatia0800 222845
Cyprus800 95207
Czech Repub.800 142 428
Denmark8088 4368
Egypt0800 0000023
Estonia8000044265
Finland0800 116773
France0800 900240
Germany0800 182 3246
Great Britiain0800 374 199
Greece00800 44131422
Hawaii1866 293 2604
Hong Kong800 930770
Hungary06800 14863
Iceland8008279
India000 8004401286
Indonesia001803 0441 1201
Ireland1 800 567 014
Italy800 783776
Japan00531 78 0023
Korea - South00308 442074
Latvia80002670
Lithuania8800 30444
Luxembourg8002 4450
Malaysia1800 807055
Malta800 62404
Mexico01800 1230193
Netherlands0800 0229026
New Zealand0800 443 816
Norway800 14870
Philippines1800 1442 0076
Poland00800 441 2392
Portugal800 880 374
Puerto Rico1866 293 1804
Romania08008 94440
Russia (a)810 8002058 2044
Saudi Arabia800 844 0172
Singapore800 4411 140
Slovakia0800 004461
Slovenia0800 80886
South Africa0800 990520
Spain900 944401
Sri Lanka (b)011 244 54 13
Sweden0200 285415
Switzerland0800 563823
Taiwan0080 104 4202
Thailand001 800 442 078
Turkey00800 4463 2066
United Arab Emirates8000 4413873
United States1877 533 5310
Venezuela440800 100 3199
Integrity Line Reverse Charge+44 1249 661 675
:ptbaa: I tried calling the complaint department listed for the US above. The lady was very nice, but apparently the word from above is: You have the wrong company, we represent a linde co. but they have nothing to do with this. I asked her to pass it on any way since we show them owning this group. I am not sure if she did it or not, but it seems they want no part of this.
“I am not sure if she did it or not, but it seems they want no part of this.”
And who would…. ofcourse, in Berkely they’d be applauding and buying shares in the company for such actions..
It seems to me this is a local (to U.K. only) company. Recommend holding off the flames until the details come out and I’m sure they will. If they are a subsidiary or partially owned by another company, boycotting of the responsible company (in this case American Amusements Ltd.) will send a large enough signal to those that have invested in them to get out. Money talks, loudly, and if they lose money they lose their investors.
Company Name: AMERICAN AMUSEMENTS LIMITED
Company Number: 03357062
Address: THE BIG APPLE
CROWN SQUARE
WOKING
SURREY GU21 1HR
Telephone Number: 01483727100
Incorporation Date: 4/21/1997
Web Address: thebigapple.co.uk
Sic Code: 5510
Sic Description: HOTELS AND MOTELS
The directors are: Michael Appleton and Duncan Moss
American Amusements Ltd
American Amusements Holdings Ltd
Company Address: Woodlands
The Fairway
Worplesdon
Guildford
GU3 3QE
Directors: Robin Drysdale
Michael Appleton
Company Sec Duncan Moss
Company Name: BIG APPLE ENTERTAINMENTS LIMITED
Company Number: 05852039
Address: POTTERNE HOUSE, 1 POTTERNE WAY
WIMBORNE
DORSET
BH21 6RS
Telephone Number:
Incorporation Date: 6/20/2006
Web Address:
Sic Code: 9234
Sic Description: OTHER ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES (NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED)
Company Directors: Michael Smith
Michael Appleton
Duncan Moss
Company sec Duncan Moss
I am so darn mad! Yes this company needs to pay! And pay they will! I will not stand for this and my fellow Americans will not as well. Boycott is obvious, however it is not enough. I will lead a campaign to see to it that justice is served. We must demand that they remove American from the title of the company. They are anything but American. No one likes war but you must love and respect the person who will give their life for the country you reside in. We must flood their phone lines, stuff their mail box, do what ever it takes to make en example of these ungrateful bastards. All the information is provided above. I have already called almost all of the numbers listed numerous times and I will continue for a very long time.
Maybe there is some attorney out there who can find some law that would require them to take “American” out of their title. Seems to me that it is misleading for a company to us this in their company title if they have no affliation with America or an American owned company. I find is myself thinking that maybe the reputation of our country is not necessarily all due to our own actions but may be due to actions of companies like this who use our name to spread very un-American like policies and activities.
Bad info listed here. I received a response from the Linde Group today: :hmm:
“In response to your September 5, 2008 email regarding the Woking, Surrey, Metro Hotel: we can assure you that neither BOC nor Linde have any ownership stake in the Metro Hotel or in the other company you listed as an owner, American Amusements Ltd.
BOC and Linde are industrial gases companies, not hoteliers.
We are not sure where this information came from, but we are certain that it is wrong. We are trying now to set the record straight.
Please feel free to contact us if you need more information.
Sincerely,
Janice M. Lamb
Marketing Support Manager
Linde, Inc.
(860)460-1394
janice.lamb@linde.com
http://www.us.lindegas.com“
AudieHO,
Thanks for the info.