I have just called IHG to cancel my hotel booking as my trade show in Feb in Shanghai has been "postponed", I had booked using the advance purchase rate which of course is non-refundable. However the Ambassador person (Romeo) called the hotel who agreed to cancel the reservation at no cost.

Just thought it would be good for people to know that this is an option but appears to be discretionary, its pretty poor considering the airlines are allowing cancellations for free. Anyway, all is well which ends well.