Hotel Relocation (walking)...is there a law?
 

Is there a firm law in place that requires the offending hotel to reaccomodate a walked guest (at the hotel's expense) if they are unable to accomodate their (confirmed/guaranteed) reservation?

Thanks

I don't think most states have such a law but you can always try to use courts, including one nearer where you live and where the hotel chain has a hotel or headquarters. Even if there were a law, you might need to use a court to enforce it.

The credit card companies have rules about how to treat reservations guaranteed with a credit card. I once had a hotel not honor Amex's policies concerning guaranteed reservations and successfully disputed charges.

Additionally, all of the chains have policies.

The 2006 thread linked below covers some pertinent points (especially check posts 33 and 41):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=578149

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AFAIK, there are no laws in place to protect the consumer in this case, only hotel policy.

This is a case of buyer beware... dispute charges if you're walked and charged. Don't even ask for a refund- go straight for the dispute.

I don't think any hotel would contest a credit card dispute in this situation but to the guest, a refund is not good enough.

I think the booking mechanism can increase your chances of being walked - such as if you book through a discounted broker like Priceline or Hotels.com.

not even walked
 

I arrived very late to spend the night at the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, due to mechanical difficulties with my flight. The check in clerk and his supervisor said my reservation (prepaid) was voided when I did not arrive before midnight to claim my room. They then offered me a room at the rack rate (instead of the advance purchase rate I had secured at their website). I declined their offer and I was on my own to find replacement lodging. It took me nearly a year to get my prepaid nights refunded after taking the problem to the credit card company that had guaranteed my stay. Some guarantee.