Red Lion Inn & Suites Elk Grove Village IL

Blatant Discrimination and Human Rights...

Liked: It was close to the airport.
Disliked: I checked in on March 7, 2025 around midnight for a one night stay. I had booked a queen size bed for 2 people and have the confirmation to prove it. The receptionist refused to allow two men to share a bed. He forced us to pay extra money for two separate beds citing that "two men cannot share a bed". He went on to say "If a man and woman wanted to share a bed that would be ok, but not two men". I thankfully recorded this conversation. I asked if I could have a refund and go somewhere else and he angrily refused. In my room I contacted a civil rights lawyer who told me, "This was not a small civil rights violation, but a huge one." Blatant accommodation discrimination is evidenced here which is apparently big deal legally. The next morning, only after threatening legal action, did I receive my $20 refund for the extra bed by a different (and much kinder) employee. I contacted Sonesta (which is associated with the Red Lion Inn franchise) who forwarded my emailed complaints to both the Red Lion Franchise corporate office and the hotel directly that committed the civil rights violation. I have yet to hear anything back from either. I filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General Civil Rights Bureau and the Illinois Department of Human Rights who unfortunately are telling me they won't be able to build a case until June so I have to wait a while. I've been to 27 countries across all continents except Antarctica and Australia and have never known what discrimination felt like until I stayed here, in my own country, and in Chicago of all places. I plan on suing this company. Let this be a warning to all travelers that by staying here, you are at risk of being discriminated. We were not welcomed, and above all, we did not feel safe. I will continue to seek justice as now, every hotel I visit, I have anxiety. Also, I couldn't believe that these reviews were true after staying there.