Major hotel chains accused of misleading consumers with sales adverts

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It found that during a promotion run by Travelodge advertising hotel rooms in London “from £55” and outside of the capital “from £39” – 15 hotels had less than 10 per cent of nights available at the advertised price. Advertising Standards Authority travel marketing guidelines state that retailers must make it clear that stock is limited, and the availability of a product must be “spread evenly across the advertised travel period”. In the summer of this year, Accor promoted a 15 per cent off member’s sale for its French hotels with nightly rates advertised “from £129” on Facebook. A spokesperson for Travelodge said: “Travelodge fully complies with Advertising Standards Authority guidelines and is confident in its data, “While room availability at individual hotels is affected by customer booking patterns and local circumstances, our price messaging fully complies with ASA requirements and we remain transparent with our customers about costs.” For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast