What must a hotel do if a guest does not cancel a reservation as agreed?

When a guest fails to cancel a reservation in accordance with the agreed terms, the hotel is typically within its rights to charge the guest for the room. This is based on the contractual obligation formed at the time the reservation was made. When a guest reserves a room, they enter into a contract with the hotel, which often includes a cancellation policy.

If the guest does not adhere to this policy by failing to cancel their reservation in the required timeframe, the hotel has justified grounds to charge for the room. This charge can help the hotel mitigate potential losses from holding the room open and perhaps turning down other guests who may have wanted to book it. Hotels usually make their cancellation policies clear during the booking process, ensuring guests are aware of the consequences of not canceling on time.

While providing a full refund, confirming the stay, or offering discounts may seem like friendly gestures, these do not align with the typical legal expectations in hospitality law regarding breach of cancelation agreements. Thus, charging the guest for the room is the action that best ensures compliance with the established contract and helps the hotel protect its business interests.