HotelPlanner Reviews
HotelPlanner is a travel website which says that they are the leading provider of online services to the “global group hotel sales market,” meaning that they assist people who are looking to arrange hotel stays for groups.
How Does it Work?
The website promises that they can arrange hotel stays for any type of group, from business meetings or conferences, to traveling sports teams, family reunions, weddings, tour groups, non profit, charity, or any other type of group.
HotelPlanner.com says that they can ensure the lowest possible rates for group hotel stays because their customers receive quotes directly from the hotel sales managers themselves, and not quotes which are automatically processed by a website.
If you do not receive the lowest possible rates that meet all the criteria you provided to HotelPlanner.com, the website promises that they will pay for your hotel room. For specific details regarding this policy, you’ll have to contact their Customer Service.
All you have to do to secure a quote is go to the website, submit your destination, your arrival and departure dates, the number of rooms your group will need, and the type of group you are representing.
You can also search for a meeting space by submitting your destination, the length of time you'll need the meeting space, the room layout and time of your rental, the number of people attending the meeting, the hotel rooms needed, and the size of the room you'll need.
HotelPlanner.com also offers free rooms for the coordinators of the groups that book through them, as well as discounts for any group which requires an extended stay.
Customers who have complaints about the arrangements of the rooms being booked should address those complaints to HotelPlanner.com and their staff, while any problems encountered during the stay itself or at the hotel should be brought to the attention of the hotel staff, so that problems can be addressed in a timely manner.
If you have any experience with HotelPlanner.com or their services, please leave your reviews below.
HotelPlanner Customer Reviews
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SCAM BEWARE!!! Don't believe positive reviews
Nightmare if you have cancel
Over Charged
Called Hilton Honors to reserve a room. Was connected to Hotel Planner without my knowledge. After booking non-refundable hotel reservation emailed onfirmation that showed charges $303 for room plus $162 for tax and recon fees. I later discoverd the hotel was charging $225 per night. Called to dispute but given the run around. Told additional fee added by system so no breakdown available.
Scammed extra $163 for $213 reservation
The same thing happened to us. Email confirmation shows $303 room rate plus $162 tax and recovery fee charge. We later found the hotel was charging $225 per night.
What a scam. Called and asked for cost breakdown but told fee is system generated. I called Hilton Honors and ended up connecting to Hotel Planner without my knowledge.
Hi Jim! You weren't hijacked from Google to Hotel Planner. Google is a search engine that compiles a list of websites based on the search parameters that you entered. There are literally thousands of booking and reservation sites out there. As a consumer, it is up to you to know which website and company that you are doing business with. This being said, many companies own hundreds of websites that do reservations using DBAs. I can ensure you, it's not a scam. It's a matter of really knowing how to use a search engine. When in doubt, check out other search engines such as Bing.com, Yahoo.com, or YellowPages.com to see if the results match. If you are speaking to a live person, ask what company they are employed with. A good person working with a reputable third party will say something like "this is the reservation desk" or "I do reservations for ABC Hotel." That is legal. If they tell you they are employed by ABC Hotel and they have lied, you *might* have some Remand with the company or in a court room. Also note, that mobile search engines results and COMPUTER search engine results don't always give the same results, so check both. I hope this helps for in the future.
Not to be an a**, but when you get connected with Hotel Planner, they don't tell you that they are Hilton Honors. Hotel Planner can only take note of your Hilton Honors number. It is then up to each individual Hotel whether or not to honor your HH#. The fees are system generated, but I do not know how the fees themselves are determined. Arm yourself with knowledge in the future by sticking to official websites. If you don't understand how to set a reservation through an official website, you will end up having to pay travel agents or companies like Hotel Planner for their assistance.
Fees typically include things such as maintenance towards amenities, hotels that offer premium services such as extended cable packages, fitness centers, pool maintenance, being able to offer premium coffees and free breakfast, or evening receptions, etc. These things have to be maintained regardless if every room is booked out each night or whether the properties don't have a single room booked for an entire month. Everyone always wants the best of everything for free or cheap because most people "just want to lie their head down for a few hours," and we get that, but maintaining quality does come at a cost.
Whenever you sign up for loyalty programs (especially for things like travel) , if they don't provide written information of where to get answers, it is up to you to ask for future reference.
I hope that helps.
TOTAL SCAM
You didn't get switched over, you weren't on Best Western's official website to begin with. Hotel Planner calls are recorded and the agent SHOULD be reading the cancellation policy to you.
Always, always ask what the cancellation policy is before committing to anything travel related or to anything where you pay in advance. If you weren't paying attention and just agreed, that's on you.
If they didn't tell you what the cancellation policy was (which sounds like might be your case since they issued a voucher), then you have may some recourse.
Hotel Comfort Stay by Oyo 200 East 49th street Texarkana ark is Norman Bates Hotel
I used hotel planner to book a room for my birthday it was horrible and horrifying they booked my room at hotel comfort stay by oyo in Texarkana Arkansas. I googled the property before check in which made it look like a pleasant place but when I Physically arrived to the property i immediately assumed I was at the wrong location mind you my birthday was on a Saturday there were only one car besides mine which I assume was the owner the grass was severely over grown a couple windows had old boards up to them there were piles of old boards laid all around the property half the inside was roped off this place looked real life Condemned or should be any. This property is totally unacceptable for human beings and animals. When I requested a refund from the front clerk, they told me I had to call hotel planner in order to get a refund and they gave me to run around for a day or two. I still haven’t received my money which I know I deserve back Immediately. Clearly this false Advertising on every level.
Hard experience has shown me that Oyo is mostly a crap brand all around. It is a budget chain and the company itself or the individual property operators (I'm not sure which) provide the photos to companies, booking agencies, etc. When reservations are made through third parties, your agreement is made through them and not the hotel, which is why the clerk referred you back to HP.
Absolute Terrible service just to change a check-in date.
Third party agencies typically cannot and/or do not modify reservations after they are set. They usually have to cancel and rebook or they issue a voucher. The vouchers from HP come in the sense that they are monetary and not by night. The crap downside to that is that most hotels do not maintain fixed rates, they fluctuate based on dates and availability.
Internet Scam Artists
HotelPlanner is a bunch of fraud artists and internet scammers. You take advantage of people who assume that you are like Expedia and Hotels.com who don't charge a fee over the standard room rate. But you charge a fraudulent fee of around $50 to just to do the booking! Yes, I made a mistake booking with you but your whole business strategy is to pay to have Google put your name first so that people will get caught off guard by you slipping in this fraudulent fee. By the time I realized that this fraudulent fee was included it was too late to cancel my booking. You wouldn't even tell me what the fee is vs the tax amount. You say they are mandated by law. Yes, for the tax but NO for your fraudulent fee. You should be ashamed that you are such an unethical company.
Part of the problem you are talking about is the assumption part. It is up to the consumer to know the company that they are doing business and when in doubt, do more research first or choose a different company.
I've noticed when I've used Hotel Planner in the past that the fees and taxes aren't listed separately in the information. It just gets listed as Tax recovery and fees. The fee isn't fraudulent but if you are talking to a live agent on the phone, they should be telling you that their rates are taxes and fees included. If someone is comfortable with the amount stated at the time the room was booked, that's on that person. I learned the hard way to always, always ask for things like that before agreeing to *anything* verbally or that is not clear in writing.
False Bookings
Scammers. I got bilked $1000 for a false booking in Washington. When I called the Hotel they had no record of it. It was charged on my card with no confirmation
BE Aware. Do not use this. Phone and book direct.
I had the very something happen to me today. Not sure where they got my CCN from I only it at one place nothing connected to the hotel at all.
And to top it off, it was tried twice, but lucky it didn't go through, it was refused.
beware of this company. if you cancel they refund with a voucher not your credit card. you have no say in what type of refund you will receive. big ripoff. BEWARE.
Tom Haggerty
1/11/2023
To Dannyz - Then you DIDNT have the *same thing* happen to you. This means that someone got your information and used it to commit fraud. That's an entirely different scenario. That doesn't fall on Hotel Planner, that falls on the jerk that stole your information and that is probably why it was declined the second time. I hope that you contacted the hotel, Hotel Planner customer service, and your credit card/banking institution; in addition to filing a police report and contacting all three major credit bureaus.
Hi Tom!
In my times of doing business with Hotel Planner, I've learned that they typically issue vouchers in occasions where you had booked something non-refundable and/or where the agent didn't make you aware of the cancelation policy.
Bait & Switch
I have had the same issue, they had a banner flashing overtop of the hotel i was booking with (I thought I was booking with) did not identify themselves as Hotel Planner, then charged my Visa twice! I have been trying to resolve the issue of being charged twice since Nov 3rd! they charged me $1917.24CAD, then $1920.97 and only reimbursed $1788.88!This company is a scam! It's attached to Expedia or connected with them somehow.
Do not book with this Company
They should never state that they are ABC Hotel. They should be saying things such as "This is the reservation desk/dept" or "I do reservations for ABC hotel/company" or "I book rooms for ABC Hotel/company." When in doubt, ask what company they are employed by. They can tell you the name of the company they are employed for or say that they are a third party. I know Hotel Planner records calls and if an employee was intentionally deceptive, they were most likely terminated. If a room is advertised on any website (example: 2 beds oceanfront) but the hotel has it listed with the third party differently, that third party *should* be telling you this or something like "I can put in a special request but cannot guarantee."
Totally Incompetent
Do not do business with this company.
Do not do business with this company. As many others have said, they use nefarious methods to make you think you are calling the actual hotel. I was charged a questionable amount for recovery taxes and fees.
I ran over 50 different searches across the site for different hotels, locations and dates and nowhere did I come across the amount I was charged from the phone booking. It's almost 100 dollars higher than any amount I could find including the same room on the same dates.
When I questioned them about it I was sent an email with a crappy screen shotted attachment of a paragraph explaining they use that to pay the hotel taxes and fees (of course no itemized list). Guess what HotelPlanner - I contacted the hotel directly and spoke to a manager who confirmed you never would have paid anywhere near that much to them....As I figured.
I went directly to the hotel site and it would have been almost 120 dollars cheeper. Put these guys out of business by not using them and if you are HotelPlanner don't bother responding. I tried to talk to you before this and you weren't having it. Enjoy the rating you so rightfully deserve.
A lot of third party agencies charge if you are booking through a live representative. If you aren't comfortable with the amount, don't book. When they charge you the final amount (when they tell you the price), don't agree to anything and don't book it. If they don't tell you the rate, don't book it.
HotelPlanner is a rip off
Do not use this company presently fighting overcharge on credit card
Quoted 139.00 / night
Billed 250./ night
Fraudulent phone operators work there...
I agree bad news
888-595-6314 is not "one" hotel number, it's Hotel Planner general tel number, they don't tell you truth when you ask if they are an agency firm, they over charge on the hotel bookings regular price and even set their own fraudulent cancellation terms, just not trustworthy. Maybe even a scam, buyer beware.
Hotel Planner isn't a scam, but there are definitely lots of alternatives out there. Their people can say that they are the reservation desk or booking department. They can say that they do reservations/bookings for X company/hotel. When booking with any company in the future, ask the name of the company that they are employed by. Keep in mind that there ARE chains that legitimately do not do their own reservations or have their calls forwarded at times that they cannot answer the phone and/or do not man the front desk outside of certain hours.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY!!!
RATE MINUS ONE MILLION!!! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY!!! I contacted what I thought was Hotel Valencia to confirm my reservations. Unfortunately, the number I called, which appeared to be Hotel Valencia, 855-458-6086 responded that I had no reservations.
As I was already on my way, I went ahead and made reservations. I started seeing red flags and looked for another number to call Hotel Valencia directly, who verified that I did indeed have reservations. I made several numerous attempts to call this company, whoever they are, back.
Unfortunately. I was not able to get ahold of anyone, until over 20 tries. Then, I was informed that their fees were nonrefundable. Unfortunately no one bothered to tell me that when I booked the reservation. (Hotel Valencia had not even charged me yet!)
Hotel Valencia could see the double reservations on their end. Why were they not able to see that I was already booked????
• These are the charges: HOTEL VALENCIA RIVERWA SAN ANTONIO TXUS
Amount: negative one thousand, one hundred fifteen dollars and eighty cents($1,115.80)
• Pending
8883O84415* HOTELVALEN +18883084415 US
Amount: negative one thousand, two hundred forty eight dollars and forty eight cents($1,248.48)
o Details
And, I don’t know who this company is, or who they represent, but this is downright FRAUD!
Rip off, total scam.
AGREED!!!
Hi Jill! I'm sorry you feel this way. There are many legitimate third party companies out there. Hotel Planner is one. It simply boils down to being a wise consumer.
Here is how to protect yourself in the future. For these examples, I will use ABC Hotel, DEF Hotel. I will also use 123 to identify the proprietor of ABC and DEF hotel.
Most chain accommodations will have an official website. ABC owned by 123 will most likely have a website URL of http://123.com or http://ABCby123.com or even http://ABC.com ... Maybe even http://booking.ABC.com
A third party site might say ABC.myreservationcompanyname.com or myreservationname.com . Their pages WILL have information about the Hotel, rooms, etc because they are offering you that service. If you give them your billing information, you are agreeing to the terms and business that they offered you.
If you just enter something in Google instead of being extremely specific and careful, you are just going to get primarily third-party agency's websites.
I hope that helps you in the future.
Scam
Scammers! They tell you they can get you a deal.....HA. Quoted me a rate the hotel would not honor. Do not use this service.
SCAMMERS!!!
Do Not Use Or Trust-call Hotel Directly-you Will Get The Truth There
I called with the intention of getting free parking for duration of my 8 day cross country trip to attend my dads memorial. Jason knew this the main thing booking for. He conveniently did NOT work with the hotels park and go policy so no free parking. He also refused to correct spelling of my first name. They have zero supervisors willing to help, file complaint-nothing.
DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE-despite claims all is well.
Total scam!
Terrible. Traveled 4 hours away from home and when we got to the hotel we found out we did not have a reservation, even though I had a confirmation number from hotel planner.
The reservation was never sent to the hotel. There was another couple who had booked through hotel planner and their reservation had never been sent either. The hotel said this has happened several times in the last few weeks.
We could not get a hotel locally due to two big events in the area. Through the kind assistance of one of the local hotels, they found us a room half an hour away.
Fortunately, hotel planner refunded our money and did so immediately because I was so upset and they knew they had been caught in their scam. Do not use this company ever!