LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Guests at the Clarion Hotel on Athens-Boonesboro Road in Lexington found boarded up windows and were told their reservations were cancelled Sunday afternoon.
The last minute change left a local family scrambling to find a new venue for a birthday party, with no refund or answers in hand.
John Ault had booked a room and planned to use the pool for his eight-year-old daughter Gabby’s unicorn themed birthday party. He says family made the reservation days ago, but Sunday just hours before nearly 30 guests were supposed to arrive, he received a phone call.
“It was the general manager from the hotel and he said ‘you don’t have a room. We’re closed.’ Basically that was it,” said Ault.
Ault says the only explanation he was given was that the business was closed due to a court order.
When LEX 18 showed up at the hotel, an employee at the desk said the hotel was being shut down for financial reasons and was in the process of being boarded up. But what customers find frustrating is the last minute notice.
“We already got all the stuff ready to go and they just cut us off,” said Ault.
Luckily he says they were able to book another hotel at the last minute. He says he was told he wouldn’t receive a refund from the Clarion for a couple of days.
“Those companies want to keep your money as long as they can. So I guess they’re going to give me the run around,” said Ault.
