http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050828/NEWS05/50828024
Evacuees say local hotel wouldn't honor paid reservations
Kayla Gagnet
kgagnet@theadvertiser.com
A throng of angry hurricane evacuees crowded the front of the Best Value Inn on University Avenue today, with rooms reserved but nowhere to stay.
Lafayette police are investigating whether the motel engaged in price gouging after would-be guests said management refused rooms to 30 or so people who had booked them at $60 a night, but offered rooms to those without reservations for $80 a night.
Most in the crowd had fled from the New Orleans area and booked their rooms Saturday, using online hotel reservation services, such as priceline.com and orbitz.com.
But when they arrived at the motel just after noon today, they were told their reservations would not be honored.
“We drove six hours for rooms that we thought would be here,” said Diane Smith, an evacuee from New Orleans.
The motel’s management claimed a computer glitch caused the overbooking. The disgruntled patrons outside the motel said their credit cards had been charged with the room cost, and it was unclear when.
The NOLA newscasters said they are going to be going to Jackson Miss. in about 30 minutes, this sounds very serious.
Heavy rain and wind expected to hit about 9PM and the big stuff by midnight.