Price increase after reservation due to Montreal Grand Prix
Dec 7, 21, 11:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
Price increase after reservation due to Montreal Grand Prix
Hello, I booked a Marriott in June 2022 in Montreal for the weekend of the Formula 1 race. At the time when I reserved, it was $189 a night according to the email confirmation.
I got an email from the hotel saying "In order to make sure your request of reservation for that period is guaranteed, you need to read the attached information and confirm by sending back all the attached documents in order to receive a firm confirmation."
I did not prepay when i made the reservation, but now they say it must be paid in full when making the reservation and the price increased to $399 per night.
I'm assuming this will be a losing battle? Just wanted to check here first before calling the hotel.
Thanks in advance!
I got an email from the hotel saying "In order to make sure your request of reservation for that period is guaranteed, you need to read the attached information and confirm by sending back all the attached documents in order to receive a firm confirmation."
I did not prepay when i made the reservation, but now they say it must be paid in full when making the reservation and the price increased to $399 per night.
I'm assuming this will be a losing battle? Just wanted to check here first before calling the hotel.
Thanks in advance!
Dec 7, 21, 11:58 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott LT Gold, IHG Club, Hertz Gold, Aeroplan, Avios, SkyMiles, Thrifty, AMEX
Posts: 985
Hello, I booked a Marriott in June 2022 in Montreal for the weekend of the Formula 1 race. At the time when I reserved, it was $189 a night according to the email confirmation.
I got an email from the hotel saying "In order to make sure your request of reservation for that period is guaranteed, you need to read the attached information and confirm by sending back all the attached documents in order to receive a firm confirmation."
I did not prepay when i made the reservation, but now they say it must be paid in full when making the reservation and the price increased to $399 per night.
I'm assuming this will be a losing battle? Just wanted to check here first before calling the hotel.
Thanks in advance!
I got an email from the hotel saying "In order to make sure your request of reservation for that period is guaranteed, you need to read the attached information and confirm by sending back all the attached documents in order to receive a firm confirmation."
I did not prepay when i made the reservation, but now they say it must be paid in full when making the reservation and the price increased to $399 per night.
I'm assuming this will be a losing battle? Just wanted to check here first before calling the hotel.
Thanks in advance!
Your other advantage is that the province of Quebec has very strong consumer protection laws. I very much doubt that the consumer protection office would look kindly on a hotel raising the price after the fact like that.
Dec 7, 21, 12:17 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
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Posts: 12,559
Dec 7, 21, 12:26 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
Thanks for the info everyone. i called the hotel, they said in extreme circumstances dates can be blacked out and rates changed. They decided as a hotel to increase the price. He mentioned COVID and the race weekend being changed, etc. None are valid in my opinion.
The person I spoke to said they talked to corporate and said in "extreme circumstances" they can do this. I guess the extreme circumstance is to make more money?
I will still contact corporate to see what they have to say. I asked if any of the original rates were honored. He said no. It does not sound like the hotel will budge and it's more of a take it or leave it situation.
The person I spoke to said they talked to corporate and said in "extreme circumstances" they can do this. I guess the extreme circumstance is to make more money?
I will still contact corporate to see what they have to say. I asked if any of the original rates were honored. He said no. It does not sound like the hotel will budge and it's more of a take it or leave it situation.
Dec 7, 21, 12:55 pm
#7
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,355
Thanks for the info everyone. i called the hotel, they said in extreme circumstances dates can be blacked out and rates changed. They decided as a hotel to increase the price. He mentioned COVID and the race weekend being changed, etc. None are valid in my opinion.
The person I spoke to said they talked to corporate and said in "extreme circumstances" they can do this. I guess the extreme circumstance is to make more money?
I will still contact corporate to see what they have to say. I asked if any of the original rates were honored. He said no. It does not sound like the hotel will budge and it's more of a take it or leave it situation.
The person I spoke to said they talked to corporate and said in "extreme circumstances" they can do this. I guess the extreme circumstance is to make more money?
I will still contact corporate to see what they have to say. I asked if any of the original rates were honored. He said no. It does not sound like the hotel will budge and it's more of a take it or leave it situation.
Dec 7, 21, 1:48 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,239
But that's not the case here. $189 a night is normal rate. You made a guaranteed reservation under the rate and rate rules effective at the time. You have an email confirmation. It's common for hotel rates to change for the same room type after a reservation is made for new reservations, but the rate on your confirmation should always be honored if you don't make any changes.
Also, Marriott allows hotels to black out extremely high-demand dates from Marriott Bonvoy points reservations. Even then, the hotel cannot cancel existing points reservations.
Genuinely extreme circumstances would be if the hotel is no longer operating and cannot honor anyone's reservations for your reservation dates.
Last edited by Horace; Dec 7, 21 at 2:20 pm
Dec 7, 21, 2:48 pm
#11
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Join Date: May 2015
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If the rate were an obvious error -- such as $1.75 instead of $175.00 -- then the hotel would have a reason not to honor the rate. At least that's the case in the United States. In such a case, the hotel would get back to you quickly, as soon as the error is caught.
But that's not the case here. $189 a night is normal rate. You made a guaranteed reservation under the rate and rate rules effective at the time. You have an email confirmation. It's common for hotel rates to change for the same room type after a reservation is made for new reservations, but the rate on your confirmation should always be honored if you don't make any changes.
Also, Marriott allows hotels to black out extremely high-demand dates from Marriott Bonvoy points reservations. Even then, the hotel cannot cancel existing points reservations.
Genuinely extreme circumstances would be if the hotel is no longer operating and cannot honor anyone's reservations for your reservation dates.
But that's not the case here. $189 a night is normal rate. You made a guaranteed reservation under the rate and rate rules effective at the time. You have an email confirmation. It's common for hotel rates to change for the same room type after a reservation is made for new reservations, but the rate on your confirmation should always be honored if you don't make any changes.
Also, Marriott allows hotels to black out extremely high-demand dates from Marriott Bonvoy points reservations. Even then, the hotel cannot cancel existing points reservations.
Genuinely extreme circumstances would be if the hotel is no longer operating and cannot honor anyone's reservations for your reservation dates.
Definitely not the case here, since they're asking for MORE money, not offering you to change your dates for a free stay instead!
Dec 8, 21, 2:12 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,684
As a contrary data point, I booked to stay at the W Abu Dhabi for the 2020 F1 race on points - when the 2020 race was closed to spectators, the hotel offered to move my stay to 2021 with no increase in points (it moved up a category in 2021). Good hotels try and look after their customers, not shaft them!
Dec 8, 21, 2:48 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,372
I agree. There is no universe in which a hotel can retrospectively increase the cost of a confirmed reservation in this manner. Tell them firmly and politely that you expect the original reservation rate to be honoured. Dont hesitate to escalate to Marriott corporate.
Dec 8, 21, 5:12 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: India
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Posts: 29,340
another vote for contacting the lurkers so that they can follow up with the hotel....something like this should never be allowed....
