Contact DL and simply say that XXX happened on YYY date and you and your travel companions are claiming $$$ to cover the hotel etc
Keep the explanation simple.
At this stage don't mention the COC etc as it will simply put DLs back up and they may start to resist yout claim.
Others aren't saying ignore the COC but referencing them isn't going to be helpful as you could find they stick to them and the $100 credit in the COC rather than the actual costs of the rooms.