On December 10, 2019, the ACLU of New Hampshire filed a lawsuit challenging a discriminatory policy at Homewood Suites Nashua that disallows adults under 21 years old from booking a hotel room. It was filed on behalf of Tony Tan, a resident of Georgia who was visiting friends in the area and was denied a hotel room for being 20 years old.
The state’s anti-discrimination laws are clear: no place providing public accommodation can discriminate against an adult just because they are between the ages of 18 and 20. Adults under the age of 21 have every right to book a hotel room while they travel. In this modern age, travel between states and countries is commonplace, and no adult should be discriminated against while booking a hotel room just because they are not 21.
As he was looking for a place to stay, Mr. Tan called the Homewood Suites in Nashua to see if he would be permitted to obtain a hotel room as a 20-year-old. He was denied, with the employee stating there was an age minimum of 21 to book a room. Because of this, Mr. Tan was forced to make alternative arrangements for his trip, and ultimately booked accommodation through AirBnB.
Under current state anti-discrimination statutes, it is unlawful for Homewood Suites to “withhold from or deny” accommodations because of a person’s age. The same statues also disallow discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.