The Dorchester Collection responds to boycott

The Dorchester Collection has responded to calls for its hotels and hotel bars to be boycotted after legislation was passed by its Brunei owner meaning gay people could be stoned to death.

The Dorchester Collection has responded to boycott calls after its owner passed a law which could see gay people put to death by stoning

Calls for the hotel chain’s venues to be boycotted were lead by British actor Stephen Fry after a law meaning gay citizens could be put to death by stoning was passed by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, owner of the Collection.

This new legislation, which came into affect on 22 April, is an escalation of the country’s previous punishment for homosexual actions, a 10-year prison sentence.

Widespread criticisms have since ensued, with Fry, US television presenter Ellen Degeneres and a host of fashion industry names announcing their intentions to boycott the venues.

The Dorchester Collection has since issued a statement, claiming that it is “sensitive” to the fact that such boycotts could “directly impact its employees, who represent the full diversity of society”.

The statement continued: “We continue to abide by the laws of the countries we operate in and do not tolerate any form of discrimination of any kind.

“We are aware that many variations of Sharia law are practiced in many countries throughout the world and these countries have diverse business interests including fashion, hospitality and travel groups, media, entertainment, banking and many other sectors.”

The Dorchester Collection owns two hotels in London – The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane – as well as in Paris, Milan, Rome, Geneva and the US.