Originally Posted by
Often1
Hotels overbook. Sometimes hotels are oversold when everyone who is booked actually shows up. It's annoying, but common practice across the country and hotel chains.
Worse, it is rare that you are notified because the property doesn't know that everyone will show up until they do.
You can skip this place because there are tons of other dumps in the area. But, don't think that this is a unique situation.
Certainly this is true. However, isn't the bigger question 'What obligation do hotels have to customers with reservations?'
I'd like to think that the hotel would have a local network of other hotels they could tap when in this situation.
e.g. 'Unfortunately we're overbooked, but the best we can do is get you a room at neighboring property X, at the same rate you agreed to pay us. Sorry for the inconvenience.'
But perhaps I'm just a dinosaur in regards to my customer service expectations.