© Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Jamaica, NY) – Hotel chain Marriott has made the decision to take one of their franchisee hotels to court and sue them for turning their hotel into a migrant shelter.
The 18-story, 283-room ‘Pride Hotel’ was expected to have opened last November in Jamaica, Queens. But it’s reported that a lawsuit filed by Marriott accuses the hotel’s owners of turning it into a city shelter for migrants without Marriott’s permission, and in violation of their franchise agreement.
The complaint also alleges that the owners failed to remove Marriott signs and brandings from the building and did not pay franchise fees. According to analysis by CoStar, nearly half of hotels around JFK Airport in Queens have become shelters.
The New York Times says more than 1 in 5 New York City hotels are now shelters, which has pushed room prices to record highs. New York City reportedly has ranged payments from $55-$385 a night for rooms and now averages around $185 a night per room.
Marriott is seeking almost three-million dollars in damages.
