‘I’ve never employed any gay workers at my hotel and I never will’
Scots businessman sorry after homophobic outburst
A LEADING Scots hotelier who has been honoured by the Queen was yesterday forced into a humiliating apology after declaring he had never given a gay person a job.
Stewart Spence, a friend of Donald Trump, left guests at a charity event speechless when he told them he had ‘never employed a poof and never will’.
In a speech at his luxury hotel, the Marcliffe at Pitfodels in Aberdeen, Mr Spence said none of his 100 employees were gay.
As outrage grew, the hotelier apologised, saying he was ‘mortified’ by his remarks.
But last night a gay man who attended the Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland event said he ‘felt violated’ by the homophobia.
He said: ‘I felt very embarrassed. I sat with my head down. I felt violated.’
Mr Spence, 68 – whose comments were condemned by HIT Scotland and Visit Aberdeenshire – became an MBE last year for services to tourism and last week was a
‘Absolutely mortified and sincerely apologise’
guest at the opening of the Highgrove Shop and restaurant in Ballater, Aberdeenshire, with the Prince of Wales.
Promotional material for Thursday’s event featured a mocked up photograph of him as John Travolta in the film Saturday Night Fever.
The hotel tweeted the picture in advance, using the caption: ‘Disco Stew is ready for you.’
In his speech welcoming more than 200 guests to the dinner, Mr Spence made the outrageous remarks.
A guest said: ‘He went on to say that in his 50 years of working in the hotel industry he was lucky enough not to have anyone working for him who was a poof.
‘You could have heard a pin drop. There was total and utter silence.’
After the speech, the guest said, a senior HIT Scotland staff member visited each table to apologise.
A gay man at the event said: ‘It was absolutely shocking. I don’t like that word and if that’s his opinion he should keep it to himself.’
Also among the guests was Steve Harris, chief executive of Visit-Aberdeenshire. He said: ‘The views expressed by one individual do not reflect those of the industry nor of the local people who are well known for their generous welcome.’
Mr Spence was unavailable for comment at the hotel yesterday.
But a statement said: ‘I made some very ill-advised comments at the dinner and I am absolutely mortified. I would like to sincerely apologise for the offence caused. I was hoping to raise a few laughs around the 70s theme and, while the words I used may have, regrettably, been commonplace in that generation, they were unacceptable.
‘The Marcliffe is an inclusive place for staff and customers. We welcome everyone regardless of their sexual orientation. I really regret this and am truly sorry.’
Mr Spence is one of the bestknown figures in the Aberdeen business community. A friend of former football manager Sir Alex Ferguson, he has also been a steadfast supporter of Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course.
HIT Scotland said: ‘We strongly disagree with the homophobic views and comments expressed.
‘They were a complete surprise and as shocking as they were inaccurate to the truth of the industry.’