Hotwire
Complaint 32027 Details

On October 30, 2011 I submitted a request for a hotel room in Venice Florida to Hotwire. Hotwire advertised that the hotel would be "3.5-star hotel supplier". It specifically indicated the following:

Hilton
Millennium
Crowne Plaza
and other respected hotel brands

In advance of being provided a hotel I was required to pay. After payment, it was indicated that rather than being a top-flight hotel as represented, I was to stay in a Best Western Hotel.

Upon learning of this I immediately called Hotwire to indicate that a Best Western Hotel was not in the same class as those represented (i.e. Hilton etc.) and that I wished to cancel my reservation. Hotwire refused indicating that in its opinion this was the same type of hotel and additionally, the advertisement indicated that other hotel chains might be provided. When I pointed out that Hotwire's determination of quality was wholly subjective and did not conform with the standards normally attributed to hotels, the representative became abusive. When I pointed out that Hotwire might "determine" that a Motel 6 or other budget hotel was of the same class (it being wholly dependent upon Hotwire's good faith and financial interests), the representative indicated that she would no longer discuss this matter.

Over the next several days I communicated with no less than 3 individuals at Hotwire each of whom has indicated that he/she would take no action to rectify this fraudulent conduct based upon obviously misleading advertisements.

Sincerely yours,

Jason S. Usow