A hotel in Salzburg, Austria, has come under criticism after two Sikh men from Punjab alleged that they were denied entry because they were wearing turbans.
Jaspreet Singh, a stock market trader from Mohali, Punjab, shared his account on social media, describing the experience as religious discrimination and racism. According to his account, the men had made an online booking on August 27 but were stopped when they arrived at the property.
However, the hotel maintains that its dress code prohibits all forms of headwear in its restaurant and at breakfast, rather than targeting any particular religion. The hotel’s official website currently states that “any kind of headwear” is not permitted in the restaurant and at breakfast.
‘They Told Us Turbans Were Not Allowed’
Jaspreet alleged that when he and the other Sikh man arrived at the hotel, staff objected to their turbans and referred them to the establishment’s dress code.
According to Jaspreet, the men explained that the turban is an important part of their Sikh religious identity but were still denied entry. He later shared a video of the incident on Instagram and accused the hotel of discriminatory treatment.
The exact circumstances of the interaction, including the precise wording used by hotel staff, could not be independently verified.
Hotel Says Its Rules Apply to All Headwear
The controversy comes against the backdrop of an existing dress code at COOL MAMA Hotel Salzburg.
The hotel’s official rules state that all types of headwear are prohibited in the restaurant and during breakfast, alongside sportswear, certain casual clothing, flip-flops and other items. The hotel says the rules are intended to maintain the ambience and concept of its Sky Restaurants.
The hotel has previously defended the policy amid criticism over similar incidents involving religious head coverings, saying the restriction applies to guests regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
‘I Have Travelled Across Europe, Never Faced This’
Jaspreet said he has travelled extensively, including to Switzerland, Germany and other European destinations, but claimed he had never previously faced restrictions based on his turban.
Calling the experience deeply disappointing, he said the issue was not about the money but about the respect attached to his religious identity.
“Keep the refund, that's okay, but a system like this amounts to pure racism,” Jaspreet said, according to his account.
Refund Dispute Also Alleged
Jaspreet further alleged that after being denied entry, the men sought cancellation of their booking and a refund but were told that the money would not be returned.
This part of the account could not be independently verified from the hotel or booking records.
The publicly available Booking.com listing for the property does confirm that the hotel reminds guests about its restaurant dress code and directs them to its website for further details.
Sikh Traveller Urges Others to Check Before Booking
Following the incident, Jaspreet urged Sikh travellers and other tourists to carefully check the hotel’s policies before making a reservation.
His criticism has also prompted reactions on travel-review platforms, where several users posted complaints in August alleging that Sikh guests wearing turbans were refused entry. These reviews are user-generated and should not be treated as independent confirmation of the incident.
