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Hilton Follows Marriott's Lead, Changes Cancellation Policy to 48 Hours

July 19, 2017
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2 min read
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Hilton Follows Marriott's Lead, Changes Cancellation Policy to 48 Hours
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Last month, Marriott changed its cancellation policy to be more customer-unfriendly, requiring travelers to cancel their reservations at least 48 hours in advance, with some hotels requiring 72 hours. The new policy was seen across the travel space widely as a negative change, especially for business travelers whose plans frequently change. Now, Hilton is jumping on the same trend with a more restrictive cancellation policy.

Beginning July 31, 2017, Hilton will require that travelers cancel their hotel reservations at least 48 hours in advance. If you don't cancel at least two days in advance, you'll end up having to pay the full price for your first night. According to TravelSkills, a Hilton spokesperson said that in more desirable locations, the cancellation policy will switch from 48 hours to 72 hours, requiring you to cancel your reservation a full three days in advance.

This is a pretty unfortunate change for travelers — both leisure and business, the latter of which especially so since their plans tend to change at a moment's notice. Now that Hilton and Marriott (and thus, former Starwood) properties have this more restrictive cancellation policy, it looks like this is going to be the new norm, and you'll definitely want to take note of the policy if you're making a hotel reservation.

The changes likely come on the heels of the rise of last-minute booking apps. Apps like Hotel Tonight that offer low prices for close-in bookings have become increasingly popular. And thus, travelers who have had their hotel stays booked well in advance have likely taken to cancelling their reservations closer to their stay. These new policies are likely an effort to curb the practice of travelers canceling existing reservations in order to take advantage of cheaper rates found elsewhere closer to the date of travel.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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