Reports from WNBC and Mid Hudson News on Friday revealed that a hotel’s decision to cancel reserved rooms, making space for migrants, led to the disruption of multiple couples’ wedding plans and the displacement of homeless veterans.
Gary Moretti, the future groom, expressed his devastation over the situation, stating that they felt abandoned and angered by the hotel’s decision.
“We felt discarded, disappointed and angry that they just tossed us aside to make an extra dollar for the hotel. It’s just not right.”
Deanna Mifsud, the bride-to-be, also voiced her disapproval, saying that it was simply unfair.
Prior to the termination of Title 42, two New York counties declared states of emergency. The affected couples had chosen the Hudson Valley as their wedding destination, at the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, situated in Orange County.
Moretti emphasized that a contract had been signed for the reserved rooms, highlighting the hotel’s breach of their written agreement.
It was not only wedding parties that were affected by the hotel’s decision. Homeless veterans seeking temporary accommodation were also kicked out, as reported by Mid Hudson News. Sharon Toney-Finch of the YIT Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing permanent housing for homeless military veterans, expressed concern about the impact on those who have served the country.
Lawsuits were filed by Orange County and the town of Newburgh, with the Crossroads Hotel as one of the defendants. The lawsuits also named New York City and the Ramada by Wyndham. Their aim is to prevent the busing of migrant groups to the county and their lodging in local motels.
The incident was described as chaotic and unbelievable by another couple, Sean and Nicole, who had reservations at the Crossroads Hotel for their upcoming wedding. They were notified that all room blocks for the following months had been canceled, leaving them scrambling to make alternative arrangements.
Choice Hotels, the brand operating the Crossroads Hotel, assured that all impacted guests would be contacted to assist with rebooking their reservations. However, attempts to reach the hotel for further clarification remained unanswered.
