This is flat out wrong and the companies engaging in these practices need to be slapped back to reality.Gianna Fornesi is among them. She prepaid her rooms at the Hilton San Jose for a conference in March. But earlier this week, organizers canceled the event. Santa Clara County is a coronavirus "hot zone" and has banned gatherings with more than 1,000 attendees. But Hilton still refused to refund the room, she says.Coronavirus: Cancellations bring out the best and worst in industry
"Given the global pandemic that is happening right now, I think I should be entitled to a refund or a hotel credit at the very least," says Fornesi, a marketing director from San Francisco.
Hilton had granted waivers of its refund policy for guests in China, South Korea, Italy and Saudia Arabia – but not San Jose. That meant Hilton would keep her $588.
Their bottom line is not more important than a crisis.