Best Western has released a reservation cancellation waiver for stays in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean through June 30, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as an Elite Status Extension policy.
Guests who booked directly can cancel any stay for any date if done at minimum 24 hours before the intended stay of by June 30.
You can access Best Western’s page for Covid-19 policy here.
READ MORE: Best Western Rewards Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here’s the coronavirus waiver policy:
Best Western Cancellation Policy
Effective Date: March 23, 2020
As we continue to monitor the impact of COVID–19, the Best Western Hotels & Resorts cancellation policy is as follows:
The policy applies to any reservation for any future arrival date.
The policy applies to hotels located in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
Guests may cancel at any time, as long as cancellation occurs least 24 hours before arrival, and the reservation is cancelled on or before June 30, 2020.
Hotels will waive all fees associated with the cancellation of the booking.
Applies to all booking channels.
A more restrictive cancellation policy may apply to a limited number of high-demand dates at individual hotels.
Best Western has also announced that all Elite Tiers will now be valid until January 31, 2022:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWHR) is helping its loyalty members retain their elite status with Best Western Rewards (BWR) as the Coronavirus continues to impact global travel plans. Effective immediately, all BWR members globally will maintain their current status through January 31, 2022 without needing to fulfill the necessary qualifications.
BWHR is also extending support to its BWR members who might have already suffered a downgrade as a result of restricted travel – BWR members who downgraded a tier at the end of 2019 will be leveled-up to their previous tier and will maintain that status through January 31, 2022, without needing to fulfill the necessary qualifications. Additionally, BWR members can donate their reward points to BWHR’s charitable fund, Best Western for a Better World®, which has committed to supporting those impacted by the virus worldwide.
This policy is in line with those of the competition although more generous since they include last years activity drop as well.
Conclusion
The waiver policy for stays in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean is in line with what other hotel chains are offering (read no question cancellations and refunds).
Not sure what Best Western’s plans are for all other countries/regions? They merely ask those that have booked directly to contact individual hotels. Not good.
Here are the frequently asked questions by Best Western:
Cancellation Policy Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are you making this change?
R: Best Western® Hotels & Resorts has a loyal customer base which has been negatively impacted by the current climate. This change will give you the flexibility and peace of mind you need when making a reservation.
Q: I didn’t book through bestwestern.com, how do I cancel my reservation?
A: If you booked through an online travel agent or other third-party, you are advised to contact the original booking provider for information on their policies.
Q: I am trying on bestwestern.com to cancel an existing reservation I booked on that site, but the website is telling me that I can’t cancel the reservation. What should I do?
R: When you booked, your reservation had a specific cancellation policy. This new policy supersedes that policy. If you booked the reservation through Best Western’s Central Reservations Office or on bestwestern.com, we can assist with the cancellation. However, if you made the reservation at the hotel, you will need to contact the hotel. Additionally, if you made the reservation through an online travel agency (e.g .Expedia or Booking.com), you need to contact the online travel agency to cancel the reservation.
Q: Does the less restrictive cancellation policy apply to all future arrival dates?
A: Yes, the cancellation policy applies to all future arrival dates for reservations that are booked or changed, and then cancelled on or before June 30, 2020.
Q: My reservation is for a stay outside of North America. Can I still cancel it?
A: This new flexible cancellation policy allows you to change your reservation at any of our hotels in the U.S., Canada or the Caribbean, provided you cancel so at least 24 hours prior to your arrival, and the cancellation occurs by June 30, 2020. Cancellation policies outside of the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean may vary—please contact the hotel for information regarding cancellation policies outside this region