Hello,
I have a hotel reservation in Montreal for a layover at the end of May that I booked over 6 months ago at a normal rate.
I recently received a message from the host claiming there is a “maintenance issue” at the property and asking me to cancel the booking myself. The timing feels suspicious, as this overlaps with the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend in Montreal, when hotel prices are significantly higher and most properties appear fully sold out or priced at several times the original rate.
I also noticed that similar listings in the area are now priced far above what I originally paid, which makes me question whether the cancellation request is legitimate or motivated by rebooking at a higher rate.
I do have a backup hotel already booked since I have seen similar situations happen during major events before, but I want to understand the correct way to handle this.
Should I refuse to cancel and insist the host or Booking.com handle the cancellation on their side? I am concerned about losing protections or compensation if I cancel myself.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation where a host tries to push a guest into cancelling before a high-demand event?
0