Several hotel companies have extended their relaxed cancellation policies for travel to and from Greater China due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Most chains had waived such fees for bookings through Feb. 29, 2020, due to the coronavirus, and some have now extended that deadline into March.
(Update, Feb. 24: Accor through March 31 will allow changes or cancellations of bookings at properties in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, or for guests traveling outbound from those areas. Guests who booked directly with Accor can visit its website or call its global reservation center; travelers who used another booking method should contact that provider.)
Hilton Worldwide's modification and cancellation waiver for guests who plan to travel to any Hilton-branded property in China, as well as for guests who plan to travel from China to a Hilton-branded property elsewhere, now is in place through March 31, according to a company spokesperson. There are no booking channel restrictions. Hilton encourages guests with additional questions about their reservations to contact Hilton Guest Assistance.
InterContinental Hotels Group guests traveling through March 31 to or from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan can change or cancel a valid booking made via the IHG hotel, IHG.com, the IHG app or the IHG central reservations center without financial penalty, according to a company spokesperson. In the U.S., this policy includes guests who were recently physically present within China and are unable to enter the U.S. under current federal travel policies. Guests with bookings made by a travel agent or through an online booking platform should contact their agent.
Langham Hospitality Group will provide a full refund and waive all related fees on cancellations for stays through March 31 for direct bookings at Langham and Cordis hotels in mainland China and Hong Kong, according to a company spokesperson. Langham also will provide a full refund on cancellations and waive all related fees for travelers originating from China for stays through March 31 at its other hotels.
Marriott International is waiving cancellation fees for hotel stays through March 15 for guests with reservations in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and for guests from those locations traveling outbound to other Marriott destinations, according to a company statement.
Hyatt has not extended its cancellation policy beyond Feb. 29, however it announced that its World of Hyatt loyalty program will offer members residing in the Asia/Pacific region a series of tier status and benefits extensions. Qualifying World of Hyatt Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist members will now have a new expiration of Feb. 28, 2022, rather than Feb. 28, 2021, to maintain their elite tier status and benefits. Currently valid suite upgrade awards, club access awards and free night awards that expire in 2020 for qualifying members will be extended through Dec. 31, 2021.
(Update, Feb. 24: Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has waived cancellation fees for all Greater China properties and for travelers from Greater China and Korea at hotels elsewhere through March 31 on bookings made via any channel before March 1.)
(Update, Feb. 26: Peninsula Hotels has waived cancellation fees for all Greater China properties and for travelers from China at hotels elsewhere through April 30.)
The following companies have not changed their previous cancellation easements, which are detailed here:
- Choice Hotels
- Radisson Hotel Group
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