Rejin R.
Google
⭐ 1 Star Review ⭐
Blatantly Unfair Treatment & Shockingly Unprofessional Experience
I never expected to write a review like this, but today’s experience at Vertigo Doha (Banyan Tree Hotel) was absolutely unacceptable.
I called and booked yesterday, and I even reconfirmed again this evening before heading out. Everything seemed fine. But the moment we arrived, we were flatly denied entry, with the staff insisting that “there is no booking in the system.” Confused and embarrassed in front of our guests, we were directed downstairs to the main reception at Banyan Tree to sort it out.
At reception, we explained everything again. The receptionist contacted the manager, and suddenly the explanation changed completely — now the issue was “jeans are not allowed.” We accepted that reasoning at first, until we were taken back upstairs and saw something that made no sense at all:
European guests freely walking around in shorts and jeans, being welcomed without any problem.
So naturally, the question arises:
If this isn’t racial bias, then what exactly is it supposed to be?
We have been loyal customers of Banyan Tree Doha and its restaurants for years, and yet the inconsistency in rules and the dismissive attitude from the Vertigo team made us feel like our presence simply didn’t matter.
What made it worse was the public embarrassment we had to face — standing there helplessly while other guests looked on, trying to explain a situation that wasn’t even our fault. Our own guests, whom we brought with confidence to this place, were left uncomfortable and confused. The entire incident ruined our evening and left us feeling deeply disrespected.
This kind of selective treatment is not just unprofessional — it’s unacceptable.
As Asian/Indian guests, we walked away feeling singled out, unwelcome, and humiliated — and that feeling itself tells the whole story