Star Hotel Denies Room For ‘Single’ Woman; Her Anguish Posted On Social Media Goes Viral  

Hyderabad: A 22-year-old artist, Nupur Saraswat, had a horrendous experience after the Hotel Deccan at Erragadda denied her stay as she was single. She posted her ordeal on Facebook and Twitter accounts and it went viral like a wildfire.

Her Facebook post reads, “So, I am standing outside a hotel in Hyderabad which didn't let me stay because they realized I was a "single lady" even after confirming the online booking. Yup, massive bag in hand, gross from the journey - just standing outside the hotel. Somehow they decided I was safer on the streets than in the hotel. Funny huh, how patriarchy works?”

Nupur, an NRI, based in Singapore had come to India and was travelling for her shows who halted in Hyderabad on Saturday for accommodation which was booked prior. However, the hotel denied stating, “Single lady not allowed". She booked the hotel through Goibibo, and blamed the online hotels aggregator for its inefficiency.

"I blame, Goibibo, as they should have been more responsible. What if I landed here at 11pm. They should provide a filter where women can see the hotels which have such policies," Nupur asserts.

The Goibibo team reached out to her after her post drew their attention and apologized to her. They offered a complimentary stay at a different hotel for the duration of her stay in Hyderabad. "They have also assured that, they will introduce a filter option for the hotels, they even said that either the company will not partner with such hotels or they will alert the customer at the time of booking," she added.

Claiming the hotel's explanation misogynist, she says “As a woman I have all the right to travel alone. This policy is sexist.”

Nupur thanked netizens who came forward to support her through social media, she posted, “You guys did this. You made a corporation listen, you took us a miniscule step closer to making solo travel a little easier for women in India. But of course, there are also those who have tried to silence this by asking ‘why are you making a fuss if it's clearly stated in the policy?’. Well I am making a fuss because I am not ready to settle. I am not ready to live in the fear of my safety anymore. I am not ready to have an entire system push me around until I ‘find a man to travel with’. I AM NOT READY TO BE CHAPERONED.”