Owner Alex Langsam has amassed an estimated fortune of US$318 million, earning him a place on the 2016 Sunday Times Rich List. However a recent investigation by London tabloid the Sun on Sunday found that at least 17 Britannia Hotels housed asylum seekers in the same year the firm's profits soared.
@KTHopkins that's cheap compared to the queens expenses
— Richard dean (@Themightydodgy_) April 25, 2016
A statement on Wigan council's website explaining why asylum seekers were staying at the town's Britannia Hotel said:
"The housing of asylum seekers nationally is organized by the Home Office through their contractors. Serco is the Home Office contractor for the North West of England.
"Serco has used hotels to temporarily house asylum seekers in the North West and Scotland. The last six months or so have seen exceptionally high numbers of people entering the UK to claim asylum resulting in the use of hotels to be used for accommodation on a temporary basis.
"Wigan council is concerned at the use of hotels to house asylum seekers and has raised those concerns previously with Serco and the Home Office.
A recent review written on website Trip Advisor by a guest said to, "avoid" staying at the hotel in Wigan citing that:
"The problem is the refugees that are being held in the hotel, all men too? They wander [around] the Hotel waiting to be called by the officials in the reception area."
The Home Office has a US$253,23 million (£175m) budget to house asylum seekers in the UK but outsources the responsibility to private companies who profit from the public money.
A coloured #wristband on the arm of an asylum seeker, which indicates that they are entitled to meals at #LynxHouse. pic.twitter.com/XbAYK2g89T
— Stop Moslimhaat (@stopmoslimhaat) January 26, 2016
Accommodation for asylum seekers in England and Wales hit the headlines at the beginning of 2016 following reports asylum seekers were forced to wear wristbands to obtain food and doors on homes accommodating asylum seekers were painted red.
"G4S, Serco and Clearsprings receive millions of pounds of public money to house asylum seekers, and revelations in recent months have been alarming," Chair of Home Affairs select committee Keith Vaz MP said.
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK but housing support is provided. They have to survive on US$7.65 a day for food, toiletries and clothes.
