Originally Posted by
iknowthings
This is not true for Hilton Advance Purchase reservations and most prepaid third-party reservations. The funds are not at the hotel, and most times it is not at the discretion of the hotel to return them to you.
Hilton Advance Purchase is an entire department within Hilton and they have power to refund without consulting the hotel. Similarly, third parties can also choose not to consult the hotel and refuse a refund, regardless of the hotel's willingness to do so.
This is incorrect except for Hiltons in the US, and the question applies to hotels outside the US.
Outside the US, hotels will charge the card number given on booking themselves, which may happen any time between booking and check-out, though usually shortly after booking. Therefore, Hilton is unable to provide a refund except by asking the hotel to do so on your behalf.