Pontins, a well-known holiday camp chain in the UK, recently apologised to the Irish Traveller and gypsy communities in the country, acknowledging its discriminatory practices over several years. The apology came in the wake of an investigation by the British Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The investigation revealed that between 2013 and 2018, Pontins had actively tried to prevent Irish Travellers from staying at their holiday parks using a multitude of methods.
Among these exclusionary tactics was the drafting of a list of 40 individuals, termed as “undesirables”, whom Pontins believed might create problems at the resort. The chain also instituted a screening procedure wherein certain primarily Irish surnames were to be tracked if someone attempted to book accommodations.
In early 2024, the results of the EHRC investigation were officially released and Pontins received a notice of illegal activity. Besides the list of “undesirables”, the EHRC confirmed that Pontins had a separate list featuring a number of Irish surnames, such as Cash, Connors, McDonagh, McGinley, McGuinness, McMahon, O’Brien, O’Connell, and Stokes, among others. When any of these names would come up during an online reservation, the company would match them with the address provided to identify if the individual resides on a Traveller site or a caravan park.
Additionally, Pontins had introduced a policy which mandated customers to be present on the electoral register – a practice which disproportionately impacted the traveller and gypsy communities as they are less likely to be registered. Describing the extent of the bias, a former staff member outlined how staff were trained to tell customers that there was no availability if they suspected them to come from the Travller community. In one instance in 2017, an Irish Traveller was denied a booking, citing no availability, an excuse which was proven false when a non-Traveller friend was able to book immediately afterwards.
An informant from Pontins was instructed to detect a “rough Irish accent”.
In late 2017, an Irish Traveller together with his settled companion discovered their vacation was scrapped by Pontins, more than a week after they’d secured their booking, with no explanation provided concerning the revocation.
Pontins acknowledged in a press release that their unfair treatment towards Irish Travellers was undeniably inappropriate. They recognised the severity of the matters outlined in the report and deeply lamented any discomfort inflicted, particularly upon the members of the traveller and gypsy factions who were genuinely impacted.
In coordination with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Pontins affirmed their total dedication to affirming persistent compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Their focus is on instating a strong policy against all types of discrimination and cultivating a welcoming and inclusive ambiance for all their visitors.
They have critically analysed the issues brought up by the EHRC, established and ventured into a year-long strategic plan, under the vigilant watch of the EHRC, to assure continuous adherence to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.
Ultimately, it will be on EHRC to supervise the execution of this strategic plan.