Two major hotel chains have recently announced a change to their cancellation policies.
Both Hilton and Marriott – and all of the brands that fall under those such as Doubletree and Embassy Suites for Hilton, and Sheraton and Courtyard for Marriott – will now require 48 hours to cancel a stay without penalty. For companies that have contracted rates with those chains or specific properties, the new policy may not apply. Additionally, pre-paid rates will generally have stricter cancellation policies.
Hotel companies have been increasingly tightening their cancellation policies over the past three years as a means to reduce the number of rooms that go unused, or sold at a heavily discounted rate.Some travelers may actually benefit from the new policy if they often make last minute bookings as they are more likely to find availability. Moving forward, the best advice for travelers is to always be sure to understand your hotel cancellation policy at the time of booking.