Hotel refused to accommodate epileptic boy - dad

Mark Collins says a Melbourne hotel cancelled his reservation because his son suffers epilepsy.
Photo credit: Facebook / Mark Collins

An Australian hotel has apologised after a father says it cancelled his booking due to his son suffering epilepsy.

Mark Collins had made a booking at the HFN Waterside Melbourne Apartments, where he and his 11-year-old son Max were set to stay.

Max has suffered from genetic myoclonic seizures, a rare type of epilepsy, since he was five, enduring up to 50 seizures per day.

Mark says he explained to the hotel "a bit about Max", and the following day received an email saying the booking had been cancelled "for the safety of the guest and due to the risk we cannot bear".

He told media he was "shocked".

"I just don't understand, it's not like we were asking them to look after him for us," he told 7 News.

"We would be with him the whole time.

"It's not easy at the best of times, let alone when something like this happens."

7 News spoke to a duty manager for the HFN Waterside Melbourne Apartments who blamed the email on a contractor from China.

"That service is not up to our standard," the duty manager said.

"We open our doors to everyone, it's all welcome."

Mark told the Daily Mail that the hotel has since offered his family free accommodation, but he won't accept it.

"I just want to walk away from the situation and find somewhere else to stay," he said.

"I'd prefer it if they donated that money to Epilepsy Australia."

Newshub.