"Pontins used 'undesirables list' of Irish surnames", 3 March 2021

Pontins has agreed to change its working practices after disclosure it had a list of Irish surnames it used to screen out bookings for its holiday parks from Gypsies and Travellers...

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) investigated after being contacted by a whistleblower...

...Pontins said it had agreed with EHRC change in its working practices.

The EHRC said Pontins had an "undesirable guests" list on its intranet of mainly common Irish names to identify people it did not want at its parks.

It said staff monitored calls and refused or cancelled bookings made by certain people with an Irish accent or surname, and Pontins' commercial vehicle policy excluded Gypsies and Travellers from its holiday parks.

By declining to provide its services to guests of a certain race or ethnic group, Pontins was "directly discriminating on the basis of race" and breached the 2010 Equality Act, the EHRC said...

...The Pontins owner said it would "enhance staff training and procedures" at the firm, and would take measures "to promote equality throughout its business".

As part of the agreement, Pontins must investigate the "undesirable guests" list, take appropriate action and ensure lessons are learned.

It must commission a review into its booking and commercial vehicle policy and consider any recommendations, and provide equality and diversity training for staff each year.

The EHRC started a probe in February 2020 after complaints from the whistleblower and Travellers. Its Pontins agreement is binding from 22 February 2021...