A hotel chain in Manchester has come under fire for cancelling bookings on the same day that Oasis announced their upcoming gigs, leading to a drastic increase in room prices across the city. Guests who had reserved rooms at the Maldron hotels in Manchester received cancellation notices, citing a “technical error” as the reason. This occurred as hotel room availability quickly dwindled and prices skyrocketed following the announcement of Oasis’ tour dates.
The cancellation notices were sent out to customers who had booked rooms at both the city centre location on Charles Street and the Cathedral Quarter branch on Chapel Street. The announcement of Oasis’ UK and Ireland tour in 2025, including four concerts in Heaton Park, Manchester, sparked a rush to secure accommodations for the concert dates on July 11, 12, 19, and 20. However, many guests were left disappointed when their bookings at the Maldron hotels could not be honoured.
A spokesperson for the hotel chain acknowledged the technical error on August 26 and 27, which resulted in overbooking for the nights coinciding with the Oasis concerts. They clarified that efforts were being made to reach out to affected customers and address the issue. The hotel has ceased taking new reservations for those dates while investigating further problems that allowed some customers to book rooms at inflated rates later in the evening.
Night Time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord, called on Maldron hotels to rectify the situation, urging them to “do the right thing” amidst the booking confusion. Customers like Josh Finney expressed their frustration after discovering that their initial booking price had surged almost fourfold following the cancellations.
Online platforms, including Booking.com, responded to complaints from affected customers, emphasising the importance of upholding confirmed bookings. The hotel assured that they were not attempting to resell rooms at higher prices and that steps were being taken to address the overbooking issue.
Various impacted guests took to social media to voice their disappointment over the sudden cancellations and price hikes, with many expressing their disillusionment with the situation. Manchester councillor Pat Karney highlighted the importance of honouring bookings amidst the technical error, stressing the need for the hotel to take responsible actions.
In response to the controversy, a representative for Maldron hotels issued an apology for any inconvenience caused, attributing the booking mishap to technical errors. They confirmed that bookings made prior to August 26 would be honoured and reiterated their commitment to resolving the issue in a fair manner. Booking.com also assured customers of their intervention in cases where accommodations were unable to honour reservations, pledging to assist affected customers.
The incident has stirred debate around customer rights and fair practices in the hospitality industry, particularly during high-demand events like concert tours. As investigations continue into the booking mishap, guests and industry experts alike are looking for accountability and resolution from the hotel chain to rectify the situation and regain public trust.