A hotel in Hull has apologised to a Romanian graduate after staff turned her away because they thought she was a prostitute.
Alecsandra Puflea had already booked online, but reception staff at the Holiday Inn Express refused her a room upon discovering her nationality.
The Times reports the hotel had adopted a policy of screening guests after previous Romanian women had used the hotel for prostitution.
Puflea said the receptionist told her: “I’m sorry but we don’t accept Romanians.”
“It was an awful experience,” she added. “”He took one look at my ID and said that I could not stay in the hotel. I tried to show him my British driver’s licence but he said I could not stay in the hotel because I was from Romania.
“There were other customers standing around so I was very embarrassed. I was in such disbelief and shock that I left the hotel.”
Puflea reported the hotel to the police, who told her why the hotel had adopted the policy. “I was very upset when I found out the reason they had told me to leave.” she said.
“Not all Romanians are prostitutes, it is a very small percentage.
“Even though it made more sense when I found out about the problems they have had in the past, it is still discriminatory and it is still wrong. You can’t tar everyone with the same brush because of their nationality.”
A spokesman for Humberside Police said officers had spoken with the hotel’s general manager and “their policy is being reviewed.”
Holiday Inn said: “We apologise unreservedly to Ms Puflea for the misunderstanding and any distress caused.”