Foreign Media Anchor Claims Filming Ban; Grand Hotel Clarifies: Hope to Balance Interview Needs with Guest Privacy

(Central News Agency, Taipei, 16th) Foreign media reported that star CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil claimed he was banned from broadcasting any political content inside his hotel in Taipei. The Grand Hotel Taipei clarified today that their disagreement to continued filming on the premises was because the operation had not been applied for in advance and had already disturbed the peace of other guests, hoping to balance the needs of the interview with guest privacy.

The New York Post reported that after broadcasting a segment where Taiwanese people expressed fear of openly discussing China, CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil told viewers: "Even at the hotel where we are staying... after seeing our broadcast last night, the manager told us that we cannot report on any political content on their property."

The Grand Hotel Taipei stated in a press release that the media reports claiming "the hotel owner was dissatisfied with the CBS report and banned them from broadcasting political content within the hotel premises" are not true and do not align with the actual situation handled by the Grand Hotel.

The Grand Hotel stated that CBS television personnel made phone reservations on May 13th through a translator under an individual's name and checked in successively in the evening. At around 6 a.m. on May 14th, the CBS team conducted a live news report inside the hotel. Because the volume on-site disturbed the rest of neighboring guests, the Grand Hotel received complaints from guests, and one guest requested a refund due to the disturbance.

The Grand Hotel stated that on May 15th, hotel staff explained to the CBS translator that because the filming had not been applied for in advance and had already disturbed the peace of other guests, they did not agree to the CBS team continuing to film inside the hotel.

The Grand Hotel explained that it has always respected the freedom of the press and has previously cooperated with international media such as CNN from the US and others from France and Germany for interviews and reports at the hotel. However, it places greater importance on the quality of accommodation and privacy of its guests. In the future, it will continue to properly coordinate and arrange matters under the premise of balancing customer-first principles with the needs of news interviews. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150516