Hyatt Hotel

Many people have decided not to stay at any of the 204 Hyatt Hotels (anywhere in the world) unless they use the correct name for Persian Gulf.

A letter sent:

Internet (feedback@hyatt.com)

Sent to: concierge@hyatt.com

Date: 4/15/02 3:59 PM

Name: Jamshid Charmchi

Email: jamshid_charmchi@yahoo.com

Comments: Dear Sir/Madam,

I just wanted to point out that your Dubai; UAE franchise incorrectly makes reference to the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" on its web site. The only body of water that can reasonably be called the "Arabian Gulf" is the Red Sea. The Persian Gulf has no other internationally recognized name.

There is no room for politics in the world of geography, nor should Hyatt pander to Arab nationalism. I hope that you will take the necessary steps to correct the prejudiced and false name on the Dubai site.

Regards, Jamshid Charmchi

A reply received:

Dear Mr Charmchi

Thank you for your message regarding the use of the term 'Arabian Gulf' versus 'Persian Gulf', which I have read with interest. Having researched this question further, we have arrived to the conclusion that both terms are correct in designating the Gulf between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

While Persian Gulf is the historically accurate name of the Gulf, the term Arabian Gulf is the modern day name for the same stretch of sea, also being the most commonly recognized name in geographical terms when referring to the same sea. The Encyclopedia Britannica, on which we rely to avail such questions, refers and employs equally both names for the same sea, while emphasizing the relevance of the term 'Arabian Gulf' as a modern day geographical reference point.

At Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts, we aim to provide exempt and impartial information and our websites are designed to provide relevant and useful information to our guests, rather than arbitrating in political or historical questions. For this reason, we believe that our Dubai hotel websites should maintain the references to the Arabian Gulf, as this is the most recognized geographical term by today's travelers. Should this change in the future, we will be happy to revise and maintain the informative content of our websites.

Mr. Charmchi, thank you for your interest in Hyatt. We look forward to having the opportunity of welcoming you to one of the 204 Hyatt hotels available worldwide, in the not so distant future.

Yours sincerely

Rogerio Domingos

e-Business Manager

Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts

Europe, Africa & Middle East Division

Tel: +41 21 683 5246

Fax: +41 21 683 5178

e-Mail: rdomingos@hyattintl.com

Another letter

Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 16:10:18 +0100 (BST)
From: Afshin Dastafshan
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Site Feedback [T2002051300D7]]
To: concierge@hyatt.com
CC: PGTF Board

Dear Mr Christian Ruff of Hyatt customer service

I am writing in reply to your query made to my US based Persian Gulf Task Force Collegaue regarding maps of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia with the correct name of the Persian Gulf. I can provide you with as many sites as you desire but since you have not specified the nature of site you wish to see I am providing you with maps from UT Library Online as follows, UT (University of Texas) is needless to say an American Site:

1- Small map of Iran showing the Persian Gulf http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia01/iran_sm01.jpg

2- Large map of Iran showing the Persian Gulfhttp://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iran_rel96.jpg

3- Map of the Persian Gulf showing Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and UAE and Oman: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/persian_gulf_region.jpg

4- Straight of Hormuz which is the entrance to the Persian Gulf, it shows the Persian Gulf, Iran, UAE and Oman: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/hormuz_80.jpg

5- Arabian Peninsula and vicinoty showing the Middle East including the Persian Gulf: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/arab_pennisula.gif

6- Map of Bahrain (an Arab Island/Country in the Persian Gulf): http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/bahrain.jpg

7- Map of Iraq bordering Iran and the Persian Gulf: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia01/iraq_sm01.jpg

8- Map of Kuwait bording Persian Gulf: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia01/kuwait_sm01.jpg

9- Map of Qatar in the south of Persian Gulf: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia01/qatar_sm01.jpg

10- Map of United Arab Emirate: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia00/united_arab_emirates_sm00.jpg

11- Map of Oman: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/cia01/oman_sm01.jpg

12- last but not least, the map of Saudi Arabia at the south of Persian Gulf: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/saudi_arabia.gif

May I also draw your attention to the following link, it is a letter from the British Government emphasising their recognition of the correct name of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the Persian Gulf, this letter was sent to me in person by my MP (Member of Parliament for my constituency in the UK):

I must now urge you to correct the mistake on hayatt.com site as a matter of urgency. The correct name of body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia is the Persian Gulf, this has been endorsed by the United Nations on many occassions. The last UN Directive endorsing the name of the Persian Gulf was Directive reference ST/CS/SER.A/29/Add.2 on August 18th 1994.

If you require any more information then please do not hesitate to ask, you can also visit http://www.persiangulfonline.org for more facts and background on the Persian Gulf.

I look forward to hearing from you soonest.

Mr Afshin Dastafshan

Persian Gulf Task Force Executive Board (United Kingdom section)

Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 10:37:31 +0100 (BST)
From: Afshin Dastafshan
Subject: Final Reminder to Mr Ruff of Hyatt Hotels
To: concierge@hyatt.com, PGTF Board
CC: Persian Gulf Task Force

Dear Mr Ruff of Hyatt customer service

Further to your May 13th request made to Persian Gulf Task Force I provided you with twelve maps of the body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula on May 14th (copy below), these maps outlined the correct name of the Persian Gulf and all the countries she borders as requested by yourself. Having allowed sufficient time for you to study these maps provided by the University of Texas I am dismayed of your silence since despite my US based Colleague Mr Javad Fakharzadeh sending you a reminder on May 20th we have not received a reply from you.

At Persian Gulf Task Force we believe in using facts and material evidance to prove our case to such abusers of the Persian Gulf as the Hyatt Hotels. We will persevere to reason with abusers of Persian Gulf through dialogue so long as we have reason to believe that abusers such as Hyatt Hotels are making a genuine mistake due to lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of Middle East Geography and History.

However, when dialogue ceases to exist as it appears to be in the case of Hyatt customer service we will have no alternative but to take additional measures against the abuser of the Persian Gulf. I would therefore appreciate if you would confirm to myself by Friday June 7th the decision reached by Hyatt Hotel management and customer service to correct the name of the body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula to Persian Gulf on your web site and all literature.

May I also remind you that The United Nations with 22 Arab member states has on two occasions officially declared the unalterable name of the waterway to the south of Iran as the Persian Gulf. The first announcement was made through the document UNAD, 311/Geneva on March 5, 1971, and the second was UNLA 45.8.2 section C, on August 10, 1984. I would also like to refer you to this statement from the British Government which was sent directly to me.

I look forward to hearing from you by Friday June 7th 2002.

Yours sincerely

Mr Afshin Dastafshan

Persian Gulf Task Force Executive Board, United Kingdom section http://www.persiangulfonline.org

Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:57:34 +0100 (BST)
From: Afshin Dastafshan
Subject: [PGTF] Boycotting Hyatt Hotels world wide
To: concierge@hyatt.com
CC: Persian Gulf Task Force

Dear Mr Christian Ruff

We have received an unacceptable E-mail from one of your colleagues using the name Debbie, she has confirmed Hyatt Hotel's refusal to correct the name of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia to Persian Gulf on your web site despite the evidence provided to yourself. Your silence Mr Ruff is a clear admission of guilt and an unprofessional act, I have provided all the evidence you had personally requested to prove the correct name of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia is the Persian Gulf.

With regard to the excuses made by the person using the name Debbie, I must emphasise that it is not up to a catering business such as Hyatt Hotels to decide what the correct name of the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia is. The name A****** Gulf is an uneducated guess used by Hyatt Hotels and not a modern name. The incorrect terminology used by Hyatt Hotel is not the most commonly used term to describe the Persian Gulf as claimed by your cutomer services, these pathetic excuses are a clear indication of your lack of knowledge of simple Geography and Middle East history. Even going by your claims of using Britannica Encyclopedia the correct name of the Persian Gulf is acknowledged as per this link: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=109309 . You have failed to provide any evidence to support your false claims.

Hyatt Hotels have left the persian Gulf Task Force with no alternative but to take action against your business interests since we strongly believe your deliberate action of abusing the historic name of the Persian Gulf is for your personal financial gains. Persian Gulf Task Force will commence an International Campaign to boycott all 204 branches of Hyatt Hotels world wide. All means of communication will be used to publicise and reveal Hyatt Hotels deliberate policy of abusing the Persian Gulf. Your name will appear under the abusers section of the Persian Gulf Task Force web site discouraging our visitors from staying at Hyatt Hotels.

Hyatt Hotels have claimed to be impartial in their below E-mail, the only impartial policy is to use the correct name of the Persian Gulf endorsed by the United Nations. Despite your claims of impartiality Hyatt Hotels have actively involved themselves in Middle East politics.

Mr Ruff and Hyatt Hotel customer services will be responsible for all financial damages incurred by Hyatt Hotels as a result of our International Campaign and Boycott.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you decide to correct the name of the Persian Gulf on your web site in accordance with the United Nations mandate.

Regards

Mr Afshin Dastafshan (Persian Gulf Task Force, UK section)

http://www.persiangulfonline.org

concierge@hyatt.com wrote:

Dear Mr. Afshin Dastafshan:

Thank you for your letter and interest in Hyatt. As stated previously within a letter from Mr. Rogerio Domingos we have arrived to the conclusion that both terms 'Arabian Gulf' and 'Persian Gulf', are correct in designating the Gulf between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

While Persian Gulf is the historically accurate name of the Gulf, the term Arabian Gulf is the modern day name for the same stretch of sea, also being the most commonly recognized name in geographical terms when referring to the same sea. The Encyclopedia Britannica, on which we rely to avail such questions, refers and employs equally both names for the same sea, while emphasizing the relevance of the term 'Arabian Gulf' as a modern day geographical reference point.

At Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts, we aim to provide exempt and impartial information and our websites are designed to provide relevant and useful information to our guests, rather than arbitrating in political or historical questions. For this reason, we believe that our Dubai hotel websites should maintain the references to the Arabian Gulf, as this is the most recognized geographical term by today's travelers. Should this change in the future, we will be happy to revise and maintain the informative content of our websites.

Mr. Dastafshan, thank you again for your interest in Hyatt. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you to one of the 204 Hyatt hotels available worldwide, in the near future.

Kindest regards,
Debbie