Originally Posted by
mikew99
I have no idea what this means. On the surface it suggests a 1-night penalty if you cancel by 2pm the day before, but that interpretation leaves open the penalty for canceling after this time.
I do think that if a hotel is going to have a cancellation penalty, it ought to be crystal clear. Something like "Cancel before 2:00pm hotel time on September 22, 2010 - no charge; cancel on or after 2:00pm hotel time on September 22, 2010 - $123.10 will be charged" removes any ambiguity.
This highlights a huge difference in the way Hyatt treats its IT systems and online booking engine. Compare Hyatt's terse statement, which is clearly meant to fit in some limited-text field that's probably a remnant from the GDS Hyatt used long ago, with a sample cancellation policy from Starwood:
If you cancel between 09/23/2010 and 6:00 PM hotel time on 11/05/2010, there will be no forfeiture amount. If you cancel after 6:00 PM hotel time on 11/05/2010, the forfeiture amount will be a 1 night stay. There may be additional applicable charges and taxes.
Hyatt's own booking engine often feels clunky to me, with information arranged awkwardly and not standardized. At Starwood, click on any rate's "Terms and Details" link and you'll be presented with a clear, organized breakdown of rates, fees, and terms all clearly spelled out.
It can be done. Hyatt just chooses not to progress in the tech space. For better or for worse, what they have is deemed sufficient.