Originally Posted by
bamba70
Hello folks
I have an award night booked, and for that date the availability of award nights ran out. I'd like to change it from points-only to a cash+points reservation (in order for the stay to count as a cash+points stay for purposes of one of my accelerate promo tasks).
How does cancelation of award nights work in this respect - does the availability instantly get released back so that I can rebook it? I'm willing to take the chance that nobody else grabs that room in those few seconds...
It is not guaranteed a cancelled award returns for sale. Whilst I have seen some hotel cancelled award nights return for sale quckly, seeming to be automatic, other hotels were not nearly so instant.
You'll have no idea if cancelled room will return, or if it does whether that is in minutes/hours/day or more
1. Hotel only needs make 5percent of rooms available on award. If your hotel made a higher percentage available no guarantee hotel will add cancelled award back
2. If hotel only made the minimum required 5percent of rooms available as an award then hotel should return a cancelled award for sale.
The rider is if entry level rooms still available, if your award room is not entry level, or your booking already shows an upgraded room your cancel does not make entry level room available.
3. Some hotels return quickly (seems automated) whereas other hotels take longer ,hours , even a day or more (seems manual process)
Note
IHG pays hotels a pittance for award nights unless hotel exceeds 96percent occupancy on a night. Howeer if hotel is already at high occupancy it is not unknown that some (not all) hotels will release 2-3nights out extra award availability as when over 95percent occupany IHG have to pay much more for the award nights. As such check again each day in the week before your stay in case hotel releases extra awards.