Originally Posted by
1flyer
Can a Thai hotel legally do this?
Sorry if this is a naive question, but from a (German) private law or an (Anglo-Saxon) contract law perspective, I don't see the legal basis for making such events mandatory. I made a booking with the IC Hua Hin in which they in no way whatsoever informed me that I would be obliged to pay for some NYE event.
Can't see what the "legal" problem is in the way these things are usually handled. Clearly you are not in danger of being frog-marched into the event: what is mandatory is to pay for a package which includes the festivities. Take it or leave it.
It gets dodgier if the hotel comes along after a booking is accepted with no hint of additional package-related payments, and starts asking for additional fees to cover an event you have no wish to attend. That pretty clearly puts the hotel in an indefensible position, and I'm sure IHG would help sort things out.