Best way to handle a paid-for hotel room that won't be used?

December 5, 2005 8:36 PM

Nice hotel room in Manhattan, 12/7, one night, non-refundable reservation that cannot be changed or canceled - and my wife isn't going on her business trip (last-minute change of plans). Is there anything that can be done? Any way to use/donate/offer it for some money and/or a good purpose?

The reservation was made via Expedia; it's at the Sofitel in mid-Manhattan, for at least twice the normal price, because it was (a) last moment and (b) essentially every hotel in Manhattan was either sold out or not interested in offering a room for just one night.

Expedia is very clear about the non-refundable nature of the purchase, so I have no expectation whatsoever that anything can be negotiated. I haven't called Sofitel, but since the reservation was made via Expedia, for an Expedia "special package", my sense is that Sofitel couldn't offer a refund in any case. Moreover, a cancellation at this point wouldn't follow Sofitel's own rules.

So: I could advertise on Craigslist, I suppose, but could someone with a different name than my wife actually USE the reservation (get the room)? Would some sort of written statement be needed (which I could fax) that the person was so authorized to take my wife's reservation?

Or is there a non-profit organization that would be able to put up a homeless person in a nice hotel for a night?

Or some other alternative, besides either the room remaining empty or Sofitel being paid twice for the same room?

I wouldn't mind so much if the price was what Sofitel normally charges, but to pay more than double the going rate AND not be able to use the room is a bit galling.

posted by WestCoaster to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (9 answers total)

I've had this happen. I'd call and ask to speak to the manager of the Sofitel. If they can sell your room to somebody else and still collect a cancellation fee from you, they'll come out ahead and get your goodwill.

If you just give/sell it to somebody else its still your name on the reservation and so you are liable for room damages etc.
posted by vacapinta at 8:46 PM on December 5, 2005

Have you actually spoken to Expedia and had them confirm that they wouldn't refund anything? Until recently, I wouldn't have contacted them at all as they make their policy quite clear but then some friends had a situation where they weren't able to use their reservation and Expedia, surprisingly, refunded them with no problem. So I'd at least give it a shot.
posted by undertone at 8:48 PM on December 5, 2005

Huh. Well the non-profit I work for wouldn't use anything like that, but that my boyfriend and I live in Brooklyn and haven't had a vacation together in over 2 years, if you consider THAT a good cause...
posted by hermitosis at 9:09 PM on December 5, 2005

The problem is that most hotels have been bitten by fraud such that they won't let anyone other than the person with the name given on an Expedia reservation check in. You can contact Expedia, establish your bona fides, and get them to contact the hotel to authorize someone else to check in under your reservation but it's a hassle. I've always been amazed that any one has the balls to check into a hotel room with a stolen credit card but people do.
posted by rdr at 9:25 PM on December 5, 2005

Also the hotel can't refund your money. Expedia gets your money and pays the hotel a set price for the room.
posted by rdr at 9:30 PM on December 5, 2005

rdr, are you sure that's how it happens? Whenever I use Hotwire.com I pay the hotel.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:16 PM on December 5, 2005

for what it's worth, sofitel is owned by Accor North America, which also owns motel 6 and red roof inn. maybe if you called them, they would get you a couple vouchers for less than wonderful accomodations to keep you as a customer?
posted by nadawi at 10:22 PM on December 5, 2005

That's how Expedia worked in the hotels I've worked in. Hotwire might be different but a good number of people confuse the act of giving the front desk a credit card for a check in authorization with actually paying for the room.
posted by rdr at 1:30 AM on December 6, 2005

My friend gave me her prepaid room at a schmancy hotel recently. She called the front desk of the hotel and explained the situation and gave them my nameand there was no problem even though someone with the same name as me already had a reservation that night.
I would call the hotel to ensure they would accept a new name on the reservation before you start trying to offload the room.
Then try CL. If the hotel situation is so dire, you might get a bite. But as vacapinta said, you would probably be liable if they burned the place down.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:37 AM on December 6, 2005