The Evergreen Laurel Hotel, owned by Taiwan-based Evergreen International Corporation, is now facing accusations after an internet influencer exposed the incident and claimed that the Paris-based hotel deliberately removed the Chinese national flag.
According to a video uploaded Tuesday, when checking in at the hotel in Paris, the influencer, who goes by the web name of "Interesting life of Instructor Zhang," noticed that the hotel was decorated with flags from various countries and regions participating in the Paris Olympics, but surprisingly, the Chinese flag was missing.
Given the hotel is popular within the Chinese mainland tourists, Zhang found the absence of the Chinese flag odd.
However, when Zhang raised the issue with the hotel reception, no explanation was given, and the receptionist refused to hang the flag, citing customers having "no authority to intervene [in hotel's decoration]."
Later, when Zhang offered the Chinese flag to the hotel staff, they once again rejected him.
The attitude of the hotel has angered Zhang who decided to cancel his reservation at the hotel.
Another video updated by Zhang a day later showed that a mainland chef working at the hotel, surnamed Yang, revealed that the Chinese national flag among the various flags originally displayed was ordered to be removed by the hotel manager surnamed Su, who was born on the island of Taiwan.
Yang had protested multiple times, but the hotel management warned Yang not to interfere.
The influencer estimated 60 to 70 percent of the guests at the hotel at that day were from Chinese mainland. The hotel is estimated to have made millions of euros during the Olympics by hosting mainland tourists.
Floods of mainland netizens criticized the hotel, questioning whether it is supporting "Taiwan independence."
Challenged by public outcry and complaints, a Taiwan regional media outlet reported on Tuesday that the hotel responded that they are regretted for being unable to provide the best experience for guests on the Olympic decoration issue.
By Global Times
