Hoteling.com bankruptcy?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 2
Hoteling.com bankruptcy?
After finding a "deal" on a hotel in Miami Beach through TripAdvisor price comparison that had Hoteling.com featured as the click through booking site to access deal. While the rate was suspiciously lower then hotel direct or the other OTAs,my assumption was TripAdvisor would not have a potentially problematic company as a link through supplier. Yesterday, I learned hoteling.com as part of the www.lowcostholidays.com group has ceased operations. Worse yet,they are not ATOL protected as would have been required in EU, so refund will likely never happen. What a disaster..
I immediately called hotel and they had already received word on this and cancelled my booking as they were advised they would not be paid. Rebooking would be at almost double rate I have "paid" already. Highly advise anyone who has upcoming reservation on Lowcostbeds or Hoteling.com call the hotel and hopefully can protect reservation, although hotels will and rightly so require payment as they did not receive from these companies in advance.
I immediately called hotel and they had already received word on this and cancelled my booking as they were advised they would not be paid. Rebooking would be at almost double rate I have "paid" already. Highly advise anyone who has upcoming reservation on Lowcostbeds or Hoteling.com call the hotel and hopefully can protect reservation, although hotels will and rightly so require payment as they did not receive from these companies in advance.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 2
Trip Advisor and Hoteling connection
If i cannot get money back from www.hoteling.com,which looks highly unlikely as I saw it as lowest price partner offer on Trip Avdisor site as initial contact, trusting this was screened for credibility..since Trip Advisor was part of the travel flow linked in sone way for this does any responsibility come back to them? Noticed all the pages on the subject of hoteling.com on trip advisor shut down or they say "on vacation"..hopefully not witb a hoteling voucher in hand!
#5
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
This really gives me pause on booking anything farther out than the 90 days the credit card company allows for a dispute. I am looking at booking a hotel for February on a site that is a little shaky, because I can save $1500 on it. That $1500 is nothing though if the company goes tits up before my stay, and the hotel is not paid. No recourse.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,089
Typicall 60 or 90 - but there is often some leeway, though based on their goodwill only. The exception is airline tickets which I understand is extended by law in the US. Ask a senior manager (GM) at the hotel via email if they are willing to honor the rate at the original rate. This would not be unusual as they were willing to sell it at that rate in the first place.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Most times the hotel does not receive payment from the OTA until you check in/out, so no, even confirming that the hotel has your reservation does nothing to protect you.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
#10
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Not sure what you mean. All the Expedia and Priceline companies pay the hotel after the stay, not when the reservation in made, even when you prepay. Most other OTA's as well, none I can think of off hand that prepay the hotel.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Yeah, I know with our hotel, Luxury Link had a direct bill account set up. Which means we billed them AFTER the guest stayed.
We had another account similar to Luxury Link, where the guest prepaid, that recently went under. All the reservations they had in our system got an email letting them know that their reservation would be cancelled unless we got a CC to confirm.
Here is a link to a story about Luxury Link, and the customers who prepaid being left without reservations....
http://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-T...dly-shuts-down
We had another account similar to Luxury Link, where the guest prepaid, that recently went under. All the reservations they had in our system got an email letting them know that their reservation would be cancelled unless we got a CC to confirm.
Here is a link to a story about Luxury Link, and the customers who prepaid being left without reservations....
http://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-T...dly-shuts-down
Last edited by tatterdema; Jul 26, 2016 at 12:41 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExPLT
Posts: 354
lowcostbeds had contracts with hotels, and paid at the time of guest departure, not up front. This is how many of the 3rd party sites work.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I would advise you immediately putting a "fraud" claim through whatever card you used to book this. Even if you paid for it legitimately, if the company fails to honor their side of the agreement, a bank or credit card company will side with you and eat the cost and refund your money if the company can't deliver.