Did you know that many hotels ban guests with local addresses from staying with them, and will even cancel confirmed reservations? This policy is more common than many people realize, and is currently getting some attention on social media, after a guest had his reservation canceled.
Hampton Inn hotel bans locals living within 50 miles
A Bluesky user shared a frustrating experience online, while redeeming Hilton Honors points for a stay at the Hampton Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. As he explained, the hotel canceled his family’s reservation because the address on his Hilton Honors account (incorrectly) showed an old address within 50 miles of the hotel.
When he asked why his reservation was canceled, he was told it’s “because of our homeless population,” and the employee added that most hotels in the area have similar policies.
A Hampton Inn in Asheville just canceled my family’s reservation because our address (incorrectly) showed Asheville—and the hotel bars locals within 50 miles. When I asked why, they said, “because of our homeless population,” adding that most hotels here have similar policies.This is outrageous.
— Brian Goldstone (@brian-goldstone.bsky.social) December 28, 2025 at 4:21 PM
There’s even a sign in the lobby confirming that this policy exists:
This hotel reserves the right to refuse occupancy to those who reside within 50 miles. Exceptions are as follows: natural disaster, inclement weather, or power outage which creates hazardous conditions. Any exceptions must receive management evaluation for approval.
Since some people have questioned whether this really happened—or whether such a policy actually exists—here’s an auto-generated transcript (with errors) from the voicemail canceling our reservation, and a sign posted next to the front desk when we arrived.
— Brian Goldstone (@brian-goldstone.bsky.social) December 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
He points out that what’s most chilling about the exchange was “the sheer casualness of ‘because of our homeless population,’ as if those experiencing homelessness were *obviously* people to be kept out.”
What was most chilling about this exchange was the sheer casualness of “because of our homeless population,” as if those experiencing homelessness were *obviously* people to be kept out.
— Brian Goldstone (@brian-goldstone.bsky.social) December 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
He also points out how “if you’re a family evicted from your apartment, or a mother fleeing domestic violence with her children, or someone unhoused trying to get off the street or out of their car for a night,” you’re not welcome at many hotels.
So if you’re a family evicted from your apartment, or a mother fleeing domestic violence with her children, or someone unhoused trying to get off the street or out of their car for a night… you’re not allowed to stay at these Asheville hotels.Just unabashed discrimination.
— Brian Goldstone (@brian-goldstone.bsky.social) December 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Interestingly, the person sharing this experience is also the author of a book named “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America.”
This hotel policy is pretty common, but is it reasonable?
This story is far from the first time I’ve heard of a hotel banning local guests. I’d say it’s even fairly common at limited service properties in (relatively) smaller cities and suburban areas.
Of course there’s a certain irony to this for the miles & points community, since many of us are known to do mattress runs, whereby we check into hotels to get elite nights, and that often happens locally.
On the surface, it seems super unethical and illogical to have a policy like this, if you ask me. There are all kinds of reasonable situations where someone would need somewhere to stay, that doesn’t include natural disasters, inclement weather, or power outages. Like, on the most basic and “innocent” level, what if you were just having a disagreement with your spouse, and want a little bit of space for a night (which says nothing of much more serious situations where a room may be needed)?
What is the concern, exactly? It’s interesting how this policy was specifically blamed on the “homeless population,” because I could see just as many concerns about high schoolers having a party and trashing a room, locals booking a hotel to have an affair, etc. If an otherwise unhoused person is willing to pay the hotel’s rate, what, specifically, is the problem?
The policy definitely rubs me the wrong way, and I can understand the outrage. I’m just curious what the other side of this is, and what the specific concern is that causes so many hotels to have such a rule in place.
Bottom line
A Hampton Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, canceled a guest’s reservation, because the address on file for his Hilton Honors account was “local.” The hotel has a policy of banning guests with addresses that are within 50 miles, with limited exceptions. The employee at the hotel reportedly blamed this on the “homeless population.”
As you’d expect, this policy isn’t well received by many people. However, it’s more common than you might assume.
What do you make of this hotel policy banning locals?
