Hotel cancellations can be considered a breach of contract law, but few travelers will have the resources or the inclination to go through the hassle of going to small claims court. While there may not be much legal recourse, as a traveler, you can use other methods to recoup some of the costs and protect yourself from being walked on future bookings. What can you do if your hotel "walks" your reservation on the day? Although there isn't a legal path to compensation, most chains will have clear guidelines for walking guests. Mostly these are kept internally, but some brands like Marriott are rebranding these policies as perks for their elite members to increase transparency and win customer confidence. Having a read of any fine print before you arrive is always a good idea. If there are any disclaimers concerning being walked on the day, you can ask staff to go through the process outlined in their own T&C's.
If you find yourself without a clear policy to follow, don't worry. On the whole, hotels will inform staff to apologize to guests and assist them in making alternative arrangements at a nearby hotel. In addition to a full Special Data refund on their initial booking, hotels should cover the first night's stay at the new accommodation and pay for any out-of-pocket expenses. Ultimately if you are unhappy with the alternative arrangements, the staff of your original hotel should strive to find a suitable solution. It's not good for their image to have you walk away dissatisfied with their service. However, internal policies are also no guarantee to the experience you will have with an individual property. If you are finding yourself at an impasse with the hotel manager, ask to speak to customer services while you are on-site. Another point to note is that hotels are aware of potential safety concerns if they turn away disabled guests or solo female travelers at the last minute.
If you find yourself in this situation, don't be afraid to point out that the industry standard is to prioritize such bookings. What can you do if your hotel cancels your reservation in advance? When hotels cancel with warning, it can be trickier for guests to obtain any compensation. Most hotel guidelines apply only in cases where guests are walked on the day. However, you can take steps to recoup some of your losses and make up for the inconvenience. If you can be flexible, ask the hotel to honor your booking at a future date. However, be sure to total up any other expenses for changing your arrangements and outline these to hotel staff. Hotels should cover these costs as a gesture of goodwill for your understanding. If you are a loyalty club member, ask for a few thousand bonus points to be added to your account as well to cover the inconvenience of having to rebook your plans. If you cannot change the dates of your trip, be sure to let the hotel know the extent of your travel plans and the expenses you will incur for this cancellation.