Just receive an offer for one of those reduced cost packages from the Omni Hotels, offering me a stay at the Omni Cancun for 9 (of course there’s a tour and sales effort involved). Regardless, in the small print in the bottom it indicates that the package is designed for "married couples between 26-75 of age or single women age 26 and over with incomes over ,000. I’m a single male over 26 years and over k. Can they decline to give the package to me?
I would think there’s a basis for a discrimination claim (not that I would take it that far). These types of packages are solely for the purpose of selling timeshare properties. They can’t legally prohibit one gender or another from buying a property if they meet the income qualifications. Essentially, they’re saying a man with a k income can’t come and look at the property to buy it, but a woman with k can. What would happen if you declined to let a female come and look at the house you have for sale, but you let a male?
It’s a Mexican resort, and it may very well be perfectly legal in Mexico to discriminate based on gender or age or anything else. They don’t have to abide by American discrimination laws.
If you really can’t live the rest of your life without this specific time share in this specific Mexican resort, then call them and ask why they have this exclusion. They just might be willing to make an exception for you.
EDIT: The property is in MEXICO. American laws and American standards ARE NOT APPLICABLE here. If this is a new resort, still in the building phase, then Omni has their reasons for not making the offer to single males – and it’s obviously perfectly legal in Mexico to discriminate based on gender. If this is an existing community that Omni has recently taken over in order to sell the remaining units, then the "no single males" rule may be a rule that was set by the current time-share owners. Again, other countries have no laws regarding discrimination in sales of housing or time shares.
You can’t use American sensibilities to judge foreign cultures. You can choose not to do business with a foreign entity that is discriminatory, but you can’t force them to change their attitudes or business practices. Look at all the countries who discriminate against women. Americans who go to these countries are expected to conform to local culture and local laws even if they don’t like the laws.
Yes. They are trying to sell timeshares to people who are qualified for it. They don’t think that is you.
You have the right to be accommodated if the hotel consents into accepting your payment.
It’s their package to set rules on, so yes they can decline you.
Offhand, I’d say you very well may have a case for discrimination based on gender. I don’t think they could cite to a legitimate business reason for discriminating against men in this instance. They can set the eligibility requirements; but, they can’t set unlawful requirements.
MORE:
Yak Rider: Large corporations are found to violate anti-discrimmination laws all the time, even though they have lots of lawyers (e.g., WalMart).
Bookshop: You make a good point–but if Omni is doing business in the U.S., it can’t discriminate based on race, religion, gender, etc.
Others: What if the ad said only white females were eligible?
yes. If (any) qualifications are in writing before you sign it, and you don’t meet said qualifications.
Yes, they could. There is a legitimate reason based on gender (no matter how stupid the reason might be) but single men might be seen as threats to single females or children who are staying there.
Omni’s a big outfit. There’s a 100% chance they ran this past their legal people before making the offer.
Yeah, I think they’re allowed to turn you down. If it says that’s who it’s designed for, that’s not actually saying they’ll turn you down, though.
Men wear clothes designed for women all the time.
Anyway, it’s the same as clubs having ‘ladies night’ and not being legally discriminative.
just call them and find out what the problem is . That’s the only way you will no for sure cause if you don’t call you might miss out on a really good thing. if you have there number then just dial it . it’s not like they can jump through the phone and get you.