Bumped out of hotel - any redress?

Toastrack03

I’m hoping some wise MSE’er can offer relevant advice.

Last August I booked a weekend hotel in Swindon, 11 months in advance, in order to attend a major event nearby.

A measure of the level of demand is that even that far in advance, it cost nearly £90 per night for a budget hotel.

This week I got an email saying my booking had been cancelled, as the hotel was “closed to the public for a private event” (presumably an event that would be more lucrative for the hotel).

My payment would be refunded.

I emailed the hotel, pointing out that:-

 - They would be well aware of the major local event on the weekend in question, that the town would be very busy, and consequently accommodation was in short supply.

 - As there were now just 5 months until the dates in question, local room rates have risen.

 - I was now faced with having to pay a higher rate to book at an inferior hotel (only 1 of the 5 other budget hotels in town had an available room – it cost £64 more than the original booking).

I asked if they had any comment to make on this situation.

All they said was that they were “sorry for any inconvenience”.

I’m probably clutching at straws here, but is the original hotel under any obligation to reimburse me for the extra £64 it cost for a replacement booking?

If not, I'm guessing the only thing I can do is write an email to their head office in green ink.....

Penguin_

It depends what is in their Ts & Cs in relation to cancellation.