(L-R) Jamie Lee Watkins and Jemma Louise Gough (Image: SWNS)
Two friends have voiced their shock after alleging an Airbnb host rejected their booking because of their Welsh heritage. Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, were trying to book an £83 double room for one night at a Manchester property.
The pair were travelling from Cwmbran, South Wales, to catch Australian music producer Sonny Fodera’s show at the Co-op Live Arena. In their reservation request, they noted they were travelling ‘from Wales to see the gig’.
But just over an hour afterwards, they claim they received an email stating their booking had been rejected, reports Bristol Live. When they questioned the cancellation, the host allegedly responded: “Because you’re from WALES.”
The stunned duo have now branded the owner guilty of ‘xenophobia and terrible discrimination’. School support officer and mother-of-two, Jemma, said: “We had an email that our booking had been declined and we were getting a refund. We wrote ‘Hi, can I ask why it’s been declined’, with a kiss, very politely.
“She wrote ‘because you’re from Wales’, in capital letters. My mouth hit the floor – nothing else other than ‘because you’re from Wales’. It was nothing about us going to the concert or whatever, it was just discrimination of the country.
The pair were travelling from Cwmbran, South Wales (Image: SWNS)
“We’re amazing people, the Welsh are lush. I don’t know what my friend and I, or the whole of Wales, did that’s so horrible. It’s xenophobia. It’s absolutely horrendous. I’m white, so I don’t think it’s racism, but to a certain degree, it’s racism to the country, isn’t it? It’s definitely discrimination, it’s horrendous.”
Jamie pressed the host for a proper explanation as to why their reservation had been declined, arguing that it constituted ‘discrimination under the Equality Act 2010’. She alleges that her message was acknowledged, but she received no reply.
The nurse, who tried to secure the booking through her account, said: “I just thought, ‘oh my gosh, how can you say no just because I’m from Wales?’ It was really blunt, just one line: because you are from, in capitals, Wales. What difference does that make?”
The two best friends say they feel discriminated against (Image: Jemma Louise Gough / SWNS)
“I was just a bit shocked, really, that people still say things like that. If she had said ‘I don’t want people going to concerts and coming back if they’d had a drink or something’, I’d be like yeah, ‘OK, that’s fine’. That’s an explanation. But she gave no explanation apart from ‘because you are from Wales’.”
Subsequently, Jemma chose to create an Instagram and Facebook reel highlighting the incident. The clip has already amassed thousands of views and comments. When approached, the Airbnb host chose not to comment.
A spokesperson for Airbnb said: “Discrimination, including on the basis of nationality, has no place on Airbnb. As soon as this report was brought to our attention, we reached out to the guest to provide our support and suspended the host while we investigate this matter.”
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Can Airbnb hosts decline reservation requests?
Airbnb says: “Hosts might not be able to accommodate every request that comes their way. That’s why some hosts require guests to request to book a stay—after that, hosts have 24 hours to respond to a guest’s reservation request.” Here are some common reasons why a host may decline a request:
- The guest has no reviews or negative reviews.
Hosts often rely on a guest’s past reviews to gauge reliability and compatibility with their house rules.
- Special requests that the Host can’t accommodate.
Sometimes, guests have special requests that go beyond what is offered in the home listing, such as early check-in, late checkout, additional amenities, extra parking, or accommodation for more people than their place allows. If the host can’t meet these requests, they might decline the request.
Occasionally, a home reservation request may be declined if the host’s calendar is not up-to-date, and the dates aren’t actually available.
- The guest is booking on behalf of someone else
Requests made on behalf of other people, like family members or friends, aren’t allowed on Airbnb.
- Unclear communication or lack of transparency
Requesting to book a stay without providing any info—such as who will be staying and generally why you’re visiting—can lead to a home reservation request being declined. Hosts value clear communication and transparency to ensure a good fit between how they host their place and the guest’s expectations.