Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels have each revised their
cancellation policies to cover global reservations as a result of the ongoing
coronavirus outbreak, following InterContinental Hotels Group's move last week
to do the same.
Airbnb too announced it would allow hosts and guests to
cancel reservations through mid-April without penalty.
In a message from Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson and in an
update to its policy on its website, the company announced it will allow guests
with existing individual reservations for any future arrival date, including
reservations with prepaid rates that typically are more restrictive, full
changes or cancellations without a charge up to 24 hours prior to arrival as
long as the change or cancellation is made by 30 April 2020. The company will
allow guests making new individual reservations before 30 April, including
reservations with prepaid rates, for any future arrival date, to change or
cancel them at no charge up to 24 hours before their scheduled arrival date.
Note that any changes to the reservations will be subject to
availability and any rate differences. Marriott Vacations Worldwide is included
in this policy. Design Hotels are excluded. For individual reservations booked
into a pre-existing group block, refer to cancellation terms quoted at the time
of reservation and contact the group organiser or the hotel for more
information. Marriott also is instructing group organisers with questions on
terms and agreements of group contracts to contact their hotels directly.
For Marriott Bonvoy members, the company has paused points
expiration until 31 August 2020. In addition, it has extended the expiration of
Suite Night Awards set to expire 31 December 2020 until 31 December 2021. Also,
members who currently have an active Free Night Award expiring in 2020 as part
of their credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions, or travel
package will be able to use it through 31 January 2021.
Hyatt has adjusted its policy to cover the following: all
existing reservations made before 13 March 2020 that are for arrivals between 14
March and 30 April 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours
before the scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
Any new reservation made between 13 March and 30 April 2020 for any future
arrival date can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before the
scheduled arrival. This also includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
In addition, special exceptions are in place for all Advance
Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made direct with Hyatt on or before 8
March 2020 for arrivals before 30 June 2020. Guests holding these fully prepaid
reservations who have decided not to travel may still opt at least 24 hours
before their stay to receive 10,000 World of Hyatt bonus points compensation in
lieu of both their stay and the offer above (if eligible).
Hyatt also will suspend the forfeiture of World of Hyatt
points through 31 May 2020. Generally, points do not expire but will be
forfeited if a member's account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. The
company also is postponing the introduction of off-peak and peak point
redemption, originally planned for 22 March 2020, until 2021. This means that
free-night redemptions will continue to be at standard rates for the rest of
this year.
Airbnb also has updated its Extenuating Circumstances
policy, which now allows hosts and guests to cancel with no charge or penalty
existing reservations for stays and Airbnb experiences made on or before 14 March
2020 with check-in dates between 14 March and 14 April 2020. The policy applies
to stays and Airbnb Experiences globally, with the exception of domestic travel
in mainland China, which is scheduled to return to normal rules on 1 April
2020.
Other hotel companies in recent days have updated cancellation
and loyalty policies and provide additional updates as the pandemic evolves.