No penalty? Hotel chains differ on cancellation fee policies around the coronavirus
Travelers who were planning trips to foreign countries that are now hotbeds for the coronavirus outbreak may catch a break if they decide to cancel their hotel reservations in countries like Italy or Thailand.
But even though COVID-19 has become a worldwide phenomenon, major U.S.-based hotel chains are yet to announce they are waiving cancellation fees for domestic travel or in parts of Europe.
For now, it appears to depend on where you go and when.
Marriott International, whose brands include Westin, Sheraton, Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, says it will forego cancellation fees in certain countries through March 31.
They include China, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, French Polynesia, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam; Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa.
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Marriott also urges travelers check with their travel agents or online travel sites they booked through about their policies. Marriott adds its cancellation policy does not apply to group bookings.
Wyndham Hotels Resorts, whose properties include La Quinta, Days Inn and Ramada, is waiving cancellation and change fees in China, South Korea and Italy through March 31.
Hilton, with brands ranging from Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites to DoubleTree and Waldorf Astoria, is also waiving fees for China, South Korea Saudi Arabia through March 31. Those going to Italy will get a break for stays through April 30.Â
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For just U.S. travelers, the Hilton policy now extends to stays in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland through April 12.
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The Four Seasons, saying in a statement it wants to make the travel experience “as worry free as possible,” has lifted cancellation fees until April 15. The hotelier said this applies to any of Four Seasons hotels or resorts in the Asia Pacific region and Europe, except for the United Kingdom.Â
