Asian man turned away from Michiana hotels due to coronavirus concerns

PLYMOUTH, Ind. - The threat of the coronavirus continues to spark threats worldwide, but one man in Michiana said it led to him being discriminated against.

Kao Lor is an Asian man who was traveling through Plymouth to buy a car Wednesday night.

He needed a place to stay and tried two hotels in town. First he went in to the Super 8.

Lor recorded the interaction.

Lor said a staffer at Super 8 told him that he needed to know if Lor was from China.

Lor asked the staffer why it was necessary.

"If you're from China, I need to know," the staffer said.

"Because why?" Lor replied.

"Because of the coronavirus going around," the staffer said.

"Anyone from China, I'm told, has to be picked up and quarantined," the staffer said.

Lor asked to see the hotel policy that stated that.

The staffer did not show it to him.

Lor left and went down the street to the Days Inn nearby.

He also recorded that interaction and asked the employee if they were accepting Asian guests.

"No." the employee said.

"Why's that?" said Lor.

"That's what my owner told me," the employee said.

We went to both hotels to see if either truly had a policy prohibiting Asian guests from staying.

The Super 8 hotel said management is aware of the viral video and situation and the employee on camera are being "dealt with."

The Days Inn managers spoke off camera and said each location has its own policy when it comes to turning guests away.

They also said Lor was turned away because he was recording on his phone when he walked up and that, according to staff, it was "clear he was not there looking for a hotel room."

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts owns the two hotel brands and licenses them out to independent owners and operators as franchisees. The company released the following statement in response to the incident.

We’re deeply troubled by these incidents as they’re not reflective our values or our expectations of franchisees. While these locations are individually owned and operated, it’s important to note that the “corporate policy” referenced in the video does not exist. Please know we’re treating this matter seriously and are addressing with the owners of both hotels. We’re also working to reach out to this guest to offer our sincere apologies and will be extending a gesture of goodwill to help make things right.

Kao Lor was not immediately available for comment, but Wyndham is also trying to reach out to him to "help make things right."