CITY WHISPERS: It’s not easy to wake up – try asking IHG about LGBT as a group accused of ‘hypocrisy’ over human rights in Uzbekistan
Holiday Inn and InterContinental Hotel owner IHG must have their LGBT+ credentials watertight after Pride Month to continue to attract as many guests as possible.
But the company is in turmoil after human rights activist Peter Tatchell accused it of “hypocrisy” for brandishing pro-LGBT+ trappings on its website while operating a hotel in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, where homosexual activity can lead to three years in prison. .
IHG said the company did not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but admitted it would “comply with legal requirements” when state law conflicted with its own policies.
‘Safe space’: IHG admitted it would ‘comply with legal requirements’ when national law conflicted with its own policies
But when contacted by The Mail on Sunday, the hotel said it would provide ‘a safe place for guests whether or not they are in a same-sex relationship’, seemingly in violation of the law.
However, when asked if this “safe space” would still apply if Tashkent police started looking for LGBT+ people, IHG said it “didn’t want to get involved in hypotheticals.”
BrewDog trick frivolous in crisis in cost of living
Skip the recent video posted online by BrewDog boss James Watt if you’re afraid of heights.
Watt is shown throwing a laptop in a bag from a helicopter 300 feet above Las Vegas to celebrate his investment in Mous, who makes phone cases, computer bags and more.
Impressive, the bag looks perfect when it lands.
The laptop turns on, but is in much worse condition.
Perhaps not a good trick during a cost-of-living crisis.
Hamoodi prepares knockout hit at Nanoco?
Footage is circulating of Nanoco’s activist shareholder Tariq Hamoodi channeling THG’s Matt Molding — topless and showing off muscle.
At least the video had context as it was filmed when Hamoodi was in a charity boxing match several years ago.
Hamoodi and hedge fund Decagon Asset Management have demanded a shareholder meeting at the technology company, which settled a legal dispute with Samsung earlier this year.
He has been advocating for a board overhaul at Nanoco for some time and has a slew of proposed directors to replace the current management if successful.
But shares in Nanoco ended the week lower than before the meeting was called – perhaps Hamoodi is still preparing to deliver a knockout blow?
More turmoil for Sanjeev Gupta
More turmoil for industrialist Sanjeev Gupta last week when Simec Atlantis Energy, a renewable energy company he backs, asked for the stock to be suspended over a failure to meet its June annual report deadline.
The group, founded by Gupta’s father, said it had “worked hard” to sign a 30-year lease in Wales where it is building an energy storage facility.
The negotiations on this were completed on 20 June.
Simec said there were “no material problems” causing the delay.
While it’s nowhere close to, say, an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, it’s a less than ideal course of action for Gupta.