Latest news with #MercureHotel
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Mercure Hotel Newport not housing asylum seekers
These rumours, gaining traction across local Facebook groups and comment threads, echo similar misinformation that has circulated about other hotels, including some as nearby as Bristol. Despite the online noise surrounding the hotel, both the Mercure Hotel and Newport City Council have issued clear statements refuting the claims. A spokesperson for the Mercure Hotel said: 'We confirm that this property is operating as a hotel as usual, and as such it remains fully open to guests. The property has not been designated for any alternative use. Any suggestions to the contrary are incorrect.' Newport City Council also clarified its position. 'Accommodation for people seeking asylum is provided by the Home Office and their housing partners. We do not have any hotels in Newport operating under these arrangements,' a spokesperson said. A suggestion that the hotel was being used in this way had been posted as a comment on an Argus story online, before being removed. Visitors come and go from the Mercure Hotel in Newport as the premises is open for business as usual. (Image: NQ) On Friday, August 8, The Argus reported on a demonstration and counter-demonstration at the Holiday Inn, Rhoose, over suggestions it was being used to house asylum seekers. In fact, the hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan is housing Afghans who supported the British military efforts in their home country and are now in danger from the Taliban. They are in the UK not as asylum seekers but as entitled persons who have been granted the right to live here. The Mercure Hotel in Newport, meanwhile, continues to operate as normal, welcoming guests and serving the community, not as a facility for asylum accommodation.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hundreds gather to oppose Bristol anti-immigration rally
Hundreds of people have gathered in a city centre to counter an anti-immigration rally.A group of about 400 people collected outside the Mercure Hotel on Redcliff Hill in Bristol and near Bristol have been given enhanced powers which allow them to ask people to remove face coverings and have put in place a dispersal order which will allow them to move people on until 07:00 BST on anti-immigration 100 protesters are currently at the scene. Police have been prepared for outbreaks of disorder since hundreds of far-right protesters gathered at Castle Park and clashed with a counter-protest group on 3 August, in Serjeant from Avon and Somerset Police has said any form of disorder "will not be tolerated"."It is important we ensure the safety of both those participating in the protests and the wider public, this is why we have put this operation and these additional powers in place," she said."In previous events of this nature, we have seen people sometimes use face coverings to hide their identities in order to commit offences."We'll continue to proactively engage with our community stakeholders and leaders with messaging which can then be shared among the communities most impacted."
Borneo Post
07-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Sabah inmates trained for hotel jobs in Prison Department's holistic rehabilitation programme
Tey (third left) presenting the job offer letter to Vivian. KOTA KINABALU (Aug 7): The Malaysian Prisons Department is intensifying its holistic rehabilitation efforts through the Modular Course in the Field of Hotel Operations, held in Sabah as part of its 2025 initiative. The 18-day programme, which focused on training in housekeeping, kitchen and stewarding services, involved 32 participants — 17 men and 15 women — from the Kota Kinabalu Central Prison and the Kota Kinabalu Women's Prison. Conducted according to real hospitality industry standards, the course was delivered in partnership with Mercure Hotel Kota Kinabalu and facilitated by certified trainers who completed a Training of Trainer (TOT) programme in February. At the closing ceremony held at the hotel on Thursday, three participants were awarded job offer letters — a significant milestone in their reintegration journey. Among them was 45-year-old Vivian, who was offered a housekeeping position. 'I didn't expect to be picked,' said the Tawau-born, Sino-Kadazan mother of one. Vivian, who was incarcerated for drug use and is due for release in October 2027, shared that she had turned to methamphetamine to stay awake during her previous job as a tyre saleswoman. 'Never ever take drugs. Even when you're too sleepy, find other alternatives such as coffee,' she advised. Sabah and Labuan Deputy Prisons Commissioner Tey Hock Soon said the programme reflects the department's focus on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment. 'It proves that we are committed to giving second chances. This not only reduces recidivism through economic stability, but also opens real opportunities for job placements,' he said. 'We want prospects to exit the correctional system not just free from prison walls, but also free from the shackles of stigma and prejudice,' he added. The course aims to equip participants with practical skills that improve their employability post-release, while also contributing to the hospitality industry's corporate social responsibility and societal reintegration of former inmates.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Entire flight crew suspended after search for passenger's stolen phone
An Indonesian airline suspended the entire cabin crew from a flight after a passenger's lost phone was allegedly traced back to the hotel airline staff were staying in. The incident occurred during a Garuda Indonesia flight GA716 from Jakarta to Melbourne on 6 June, when passenger Michael Tjendara claimed his phone had been stolen. Mr Tjendara said he had placed his device in the backseat pocket before moving seats after takeoff, only to return to his old seat to find his phone gone. The passenger explained the theft in Instagram posts that now appear to have been removed, with a series of screenshots of Find My iPhone, an Apple feature that allows people to track where their devices are. Mr Tjendara claimed the device had been tracked close to the Mercure Hotel, where Garuda crew members were believed to be staying after the flight landed, the MailOnline reported. The screenshots then showed the phone on the move to the Evan Walker Bridge, then near the Yarra River in Melbourne. Mr Tjendara later wrote on LinkedIn that 'sometime during that flight, my iPhone vanished. It wasn't lost. It was stolen'. 'Later that day, Apple's 'Find My' feature showed the device pinging at a Southbank hotel, the same one where the airline crew had just checked in,' he wrote. 'A short time later, the signal disappeared under a bridge along the Yarra River. Most likely, it was thrown into the water.' The passenger said he has cooperated with authorities in both Australia and Indonesia. 'This was never about a phone,' he added. 'It was about feeling safe when you fly. It was about knowing your family's protected.' Garuda Indonesia's commercial director, Ade R. Susardi, released a statement on 9 June in response to social media posts about the lost phone, saying the airline is investigating the incident. The airline said this includes identifying the chronology of the incident with the cabin crew on duty. While the airline only described the phone as 'lost' rather than stolen at, all cabin crew who were on duty on the flight have been temporarily discharged from working while the investigation continues. Mr Susardi said that when the phone was reported as lost, all crew members had carried out standard operational and flight safety procedures, including reporting it to Jakarta airport authorities, who conducted a search. Garuda Indonesia representatives in Melbourne also assisted the passenger in reporting his lost phone to the local police. Mr Susardi said in an update on 12 June that the Indonesian National Police is now supporting the investigation, as well as keeping in contact with the passenger throughout the process. The airline said it 'deeply regrets the incident and apologises for the inconvenience experienced by the passenger'.
Edinburgh Live
23-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Airline cabin crew suspended as passenger tracks missing iPhone to their hotel
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A flight's entire cabin crew has been stood down after a passenger's missing iPhone was tracked to their accommodation. Michael Tjendara was travelling from Jakarta to Melbourne on June 6 when his mobile went astray on the Garuda Indonesia aircraft. The passenger recalled stowing his device in the seat-back pocket, relocating seats post-take-off and returning to discover his phone gone. Utilising Apple's Find My iPhone function led to a shocking revelation for Tjendara. The tracking pointed to an area near Melbourne's Southbank Promenade, close to the Mercure Hotel where the flight attendants were rumoured to be billeted. The electronic trail later shifted towards Evan Walker Bridge. Tjendara disclosed the final signal indicated his iPhone had plunged into the waters of the Yarra River in Victoria. He broadcasted the chase on Instagram, uploading screenshots and pleas for local enterprises to review security footage and smoke out the culprits, reports the Mirror. (Image: X) 'This isn't just about a phone - it's about the safety of all passengers in the future. Please help tag and share this story so the right people see it,' his message implored. The startling episode has roused significant stir in Indonesia. On June 9, Garuda Indonesia's Director of Commercial and Cargo, Ade R. Susardi, announced the implicated cabin crew were suspended pending a thorough probe. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "We are in continuous communication with the concerned passenger and remain committed to supporting him throughout the follow-up process," he informed Indonesia Business Post. The airline also disclosed that a representative has been dispatched to Melbourne to aid Mr Tjendara on the ground and help lodge a police report, with Mr Susardi extending apologies for the incident on the company's behalf. "We can confirm that upon receiving the report, all cabin crew had followed standard operating and safety procedures, including promptly coordinating with airport authorities to initiate a search," he affirmed. Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia's national flag carrier, boasts an impressive domestic and international route network with hubs in Jakarta and Denpasar. The airline prides itself on being named the "World's Best Cabin Crew" numerous times by Skytrax's 5-Star Airline awards. This accolade, often seen as the "Oscars of the aviation industry," was earned by Garuda Indonesia consistently from 2014-2018, and once again in 2023. The Mirror is seeking further details from Garuda Indonesia regarding the ongoing investigation.
