Free hotel? Really?????
 

There's a long thread about a computer glitch (presumably) allowing folks to book Hilton at a rate of zero dollars. Pardon me for being a lamb, but I can't imagine the hotel actually honoring the rate!

I can see myself waltzing up to the desk, showing them my "$0.00" rate confirmation, and having the clerk quietly reach down under the counter and pulling out the "We take no responsibility for computer errors" sign. When I persist, she'll reach down again and push the button that summons the Brute Squad, and I'll find myself and my baggage at curbside, the confirmation fluttering in the wind.

Do they REALLY honor these mistakes? Why?

For a recent trip to London, I attempted to make an online reservation at a Forte/Le Meridien hotel. Despite my repeated attempts to make the reservation with a valid rate, the reservation system would only confirm a room at a $0.00 rate. After a half dozen attempts, I gave up and called reservations directly. Knowing that this was clearly a computer error, I would not have make the reservation at a $0.00 rate and expected the hotel to honor it, as it was quite clearly, taking advantage of an error that was made.