If a hotel sells you a “non refundable” rate, but then closes to occupancy before you either decide to go or not, you are simply owed a refund. I realize this is not popular with innkeepers struggling to survive, but that is why opening a business has great risks and correspondingly great rewards.
This is exactly where I am right now. The hotel has since sent an email saying they will indeed be closed until 31 May. They insist a credit is all they are willing to offer.
Sadly, from AMEX's page here, it seems they view this as acceptable:
https://www.americanexpress.com/en-u...xpcomm-covid19
Please be aware that if you do go ahead with the dispute and the business has already refunded, or is offering to provide a credit for future use, we will rebill the charge to your account.
I'm really disappointed in AMEX here if this is what they apply to a potential chargeback. For a company that supposedly stands up for its cardmembers, a credit for future use when a merchant cannot hold up their end of the contract doesn't seem right. This is like buying a car, paying for it, and having the dealer say, "We don't have the car you ordered, but we aren't giving you your money back. You can use it on another car that might be here a few months from now. And by the way, we might be out of business by then."
It also means that I'm a lot less likely to shy away from the "big brands" that actually stood up for their customers, like Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, etc. Their hotels might be cookie cutter but at least they are doing the right thing.