Headscarves banned at breakfast – uproar in hotel
A Muslim woman staying at a hotel in Salzburg, Austria, was refused entry to the breakfast restaurant because she was wearing a headscarf. The incident has sparked accusations of discrimination and questions about how far hotel dress codes can go.
The woman had been staying at the Cool Mama hotel with her husband and their two adult daughters. When she went to the breakfast buffet, staff informed her that the restaurant’s dress code prohibited all types of head coverings.
The hotel’s website clearly states that its Sky-Restaurant has a strict dress code designed to maintain the desired atmosphere. According to the policy, guests are not permitted to wear any type of head covering, along with items such as tracksuits, jogging trousers, tank tops, short leisure or swimwear, work clothing and flip-flops.
Two witnesses who described the incident to the Salzburger Nachrichten called it “discrimination at the highest level” and said the situation was extremely uncomfortable. The family was reportedly unable to have breakfast in their hotel room either, so staff offered to refund the cost of the prepaid breakfast.
The hotel rejected claims that the rule specifically targets Muslims or religious clothing. Management said the policy applies equally to everyone, including people wearing a Jewish kippah, baseball caps or hats. The hotel also stressed that the dress code applies only to the Sky-Restaurant and not to hotel accommodation.
The hotel said the rules are communicated to guests before booking and claimed that the family had ignored the information before becoming involved in a heated dispute with staff. Management maintained that the family ultimately accepted the offer to have the breakfast charge waived.
However, Austria’s Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft (Equal Treatment Ombudsman) has raised legal questions about the policy. Under Austria’s Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (Equal Treatment Act), discrimination based on factors including ethnic origin is prohibited. The authority noted that even apparently neutral rules can be discriminatory if they disproportionately disadvantage a particular group.
The Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft also questioned whether banning religious clothing is actually necessary to maintain an appropriate restaurant appearance. Depending on the circumstances, people affected by unlawful discrimination may also have claims for compensation.