Full List of Hotels Cancellation Waivers Due to Coronavirus

Full List of Hotels Cancellation Waivers Due to Coronavirus

The coronavirus (known officially as Covid-19) has had a huge impact around the world. There are now over 121,500 confirmed cases worldwide with at least 4,370 casualties so far. The first case was reported in Wuhan, China in late December. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global emergency about a month later. You can see a live map of the coronavirus cases here. Many airlines have introduced fee-waivers for cancellations and changes due to the coronavirus outbreak. Hotels are also doing the same thing, to help customers book without worries, but these policies are not as generous. Policies vary from one hotel chain to the other, and hotel cancellation fee waivers could be updated in the following days as we learn more about the outbreak.

Accor Hotels

Accor will accept cancellations without penalties for individual travelers and groups for any guest traveling to Accor-branded properties in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as for any guest traveling from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or South Korea to any Accor property worldwide until March 31, 2020, regardless of booking channel.

Airbnb

Airbnb updated its policy on March 30. It will allow guests to receive full refunds for any trips starting on or before May 31st. Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made on or before March 14, 2020, with a check-in date between March 14, 2020 and May 31, 2020, may be canceled before check-in. This means that guests who cancel will receive, at their option, travel credit or a full cash refund, hosts can cancel without charge or impact to their Superhost status, and Airbnb will either refund, or issue travel credit in an amount that includes, all service fees. You can read more details here.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Best Western does not have a published global cancellation policy. But the hotel chain has asked its independently owned and operated hotels to “exercise flexibility and understanding” when handling cancellation requests. Best Western Rewards members can globally maintain their current status through Jan. 31, 2022, without needing to fulfill the necessary qualifications. In addition, BWR members who suffered a downgrade at the end of 2019 as a result of restricted travel will be leveled up to their previous tier and will maintain that status through Jan. 31, 2022. Read more about that here.

Booking.com

In a statement updated March 7, Booking.com announced that Covid-19 qualifies for Force Majeure/Forced Circumstances. Qualifying bookings can be canceled without penalty.

• All reservations made for properties in or by travellers from Mainland China with a check-in date on or before 31 March 2020.
• All reservations made for properties in or by travellers from Italy with a check-in date on or before 3 April 2020.
• All reservations made for properties in or by travellers from one of the following locations in South Korea: Daegu and Cheongdo County, with a check-in date on or before 31 March 2020

Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels has implemented an enhanced cancellation policy during this time. Currently, penalty-free cancellations are provided to:

• Guests residing in China, South Korea, Japan and Italy with reservations at Choice Hotels in the United States and Canada.
• Guests with reservations at Choice Hotels in China, Japan and Italy.

This policy will be in place until March 31, 2020.

For travel within the United States or Canada, Choice Hotels is now extending special exceptions for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Choice Hotels on or before March 10, 2020 for travel through April 30, 2020. If interested, guests holding these prepaid reservations who choose not to travel may opt to receive Choice Privileges points for future travel. Reservations less than $75 total (local currency) receive 5,000 points, $75-$150 total (local currency) receive 7,500 points, and reservations greater than $150 total (local currency) receive 10,000 points. To receive points, you must contact our call center at 1-888-770-6800 more than 48 hours in advance of your stay. Guests who are non-members will need to join the Choice Privileges® Rewards Program in order to receive points.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a great travel card that comes with a big welcome offer and many benefits.

• Earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 or more) when you spend $4,000 in 3 months.
• You can also earn:
  • 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides
  • 2X Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining and 1X on all other purchases
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase
• LEARN MORE

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Expedia

Expedia has no stated policy change so far, but it directs travelers requesting a refund to a portal, and notes that it will respond to requests to waive penalties within 14 days.

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Four Seasons is waiving cancellation fees until March 31 for guests traveling to any Four Seasons property in the Asia Pacific region and Italy. Cancellation fees are also waived until March 31 for those traveling from Italy, South Korea, China (including the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau), and Taiwan to any Four Seasons property around the world. It’s also continuing to review the latest information from health experts and government authorities, and is passing along the most up-to-date and relevant information to its properties.

Hilton Hotels

Updated March 11. Given these unique circumstances we are making additional adjustments to our individual booking policies to give you extra peace of mind:

• Government Restrictions. In regions affected by government-issued travel restrictions, we will continue to waive change fees or offer full refunds. Please click here for the latest information on our travel waivers.
• Existing Reservations. All reservations – even those described as “non-cancellable” (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.
• New Reservations. Any reservation you make – even those described as “non-cancellable” (“Advanced Purchase”) – that are booked between today and April 30, 2020, for any future arrival date, can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival.

They are also making the following changes:

• We will pause the expiration of all points scheduled to expire between now and May 31, 2020.
• We will make updates to the requirements for earning tier status for 2021. Since the situation is still evolving, it is too early to make and announce specific changes. We are committed to sharing details as soon as possible.

Hyatt Hotels

Here are the rules as of March 13th:

• All existing reservations made before March 13, 2020 that are for arrivals between March 14 and April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
• Any reservation you make between March 13, 2020, and April 30, 2020 – for any future arrival date – can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. This includes Advance Purchase Rate reservations.
• Special exceptions are in place for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Hyatt on or before March 8, 2020 for arrivals before June 30, 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). World of Hyatt points may be used toward future travel at any of our 900+ hotels across 17 brands globally.

See more details here.

Additionally, Hyatt is suspending the forfeiture of points through May 31, 2020. As a reminder, the general policy is that points do not expire, but they will be forfeited if a member’s account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. Hyatt is also delaying category changes and introduction of peak and off-peak pricing.

InterContinental Hotels Group

IHG guests travelling to or from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, or the Taiwan region between January 23 and March 31, 2020; and to or from South Korea and Italy between February 28 and March 31, 2020, will be able to change or cancel a valid booking reservation made via the hotel directly, IHG.com, the IHG App, or the IHG Central Reservations Centre, without financial penalty. For bookings made by a travel agent or online booking platform, we are advising guests to contact their agent. See more details here.

Langham Hospitality Group

Langham will provide a full refund and waive all fees on direct booking cancellations for travelers from or transiting through mainland China, South Korea, Iran and Italy for stays up to and including March 31, 2020.

Marriott Hotels

For all Marriott International hotels world-wide, we are implementing the following policies as of March 13:

• For guests with existing reservations for any future arrival date, including reservations with pre-paid rates that are typically more restrictive, we will allow full changes or cancellation without a charge up to 24 hours prior to arrival,* as long as the change or cancellation is made by April 30, 2020. Please note that any changes to existing reservations will be subject to availability and any rate differences.
• For guests making new reservations for any future arrival date, including reservations with pre-paid rates, between today and April 30, 2020, we will allow the reservation to be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival date.* Please note that changes to the reservation will be subject to availability and any rate differences.

Plus:

• Marriott Bonvoy points will not expire until August 31, 2020.
• Suite Night Awards expiring December 31, 2020 will not expire until December 31, 2021.
• Free Night Awards from credit cards, annual choice benefits, and travel packages that expire in 2020 are extended to January 31, 2021.

Peninsula Hotels

Peninsula Hotels has extended the cancellation policy it enacted due to the spread of the coronavirus to all of its properties, not just those in Greater China. Travelers to any Peninsula hotel at any location across the globe can cancel their bookings through April 30 without a fee.

Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson  continues to closely monitor the development of COVID-19. In response to the global epidemic, Radisson Hotel Group is extending its cancellation policy for the following reservations booked with a check-in date until 30 April 2020:

• Guests who have made room reservations in any of Radisson Hotel Group’s hotels in China, South Korea, Japan, Iran and Northern Italy and/or
• Guests originating from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran and Northern Italy to any of Radisson Hotel Group’s hotel globally

Cancellation is free of charge regardless of booking channel. Guests may contact hotels directly or use the online form. For arrivals after April 30th, 2020 normal cancellation fees apply. The regular cancellation policy applies for all other countries. See more details here.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a great travel card that comes with a big welcome offer and many benefits.

• Earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 or more) when you spend $4,000 in 3 months.
• You can also earn:
  • 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft rides
  • 2X Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining and 1X on all other purchases
• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase
• LEARN MORE

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Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Shangri-La is waiving cancellation fees regardless of booking channel for bookings made prior to March 1, 2020 for guests who had planned to travel from Greater China, Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran and Saudi Arabia to any Shangri-La hotel globally on or before March 31, 2020. It is also extending Golden Circle loyalty program tier status and benefits for Diamond and Jade members through Dec. 31, 2021.

VRBO

VRBO is not currently offering and coronavirus related exceptions to its cancellation policy. See more details here.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham guests traveling to or from China with direct bookings for stays in any Wyndham hotels from January 22nd through February 29th will have their cancellation or change penalties waived.