Turns out LeBron James‘ battles with Donald Trump may have sparked an exit from a prominent New York hotel for the Trump organization.
James has criticized Trump online and in the media a number of times over the last year, but his refusal to stay at his SoHo hotel has reportedly sparked a cascade of notable people and organizations also protesting Trump by finding other places to stay.
The New York Times reported Thursday that the SoHo Trump is likely to change its name next month amid a downturn in occupancy because people just don’t want to give Trump money.
James’ protest kept the Cavaliers out of the hotel on their recent road trip to New York to play the Knicks and Nets, but they weren’t the only team to say no to staying there. The NBA, as it turns out, wasn’t the only group to say no, either. But James’ initial protest was credited with the decision to find other accommodations.
After LeBron James publicly refused to stay at the hotel last year, the corporate clients and 20 or so sports teams that had been regular guests almost entirely disappeared, the staff member said. Porters whose base salaries were once buoyed by up to $60,000 a year in gratuities have earned half as much in tips.
Many employees, some of whom are immigrants from countries targeted by Mr. Trump’s policies, quit, the staff member said.
The hotel will try to save itself without Trump’s name attached, but the damage might already be done. And there are still plenty of hotels that have Trump’s name on it. But it seems that LeBron’s initial protest really did make an impact, if only in a small way.
