Hotel body, CASE to work on guidelines for wedding package cancellations
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) said it is looking at putting together a set of best practices for hotels when handling wedding package cancellations, and will seek inputs from the consumer watchdog to ensure these protect both its members’ and consumers’ interests.
This comes a day after the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) raised concerns about disputes over such cancellation policies, and urged fairer contract terms.
Responding to media queries today (March 16), SHA executive director Margaret Heng said hotels have been accommodating by considering cancellations on a case-by-case basis.
“Hotels have wedding package cancellation (policies) in place because once the venue is booked it cannot be sold to another party. In general, any cancellation will have cost implications for the affected hotel,” she said.
Currently, cancellation policies for wedding packages vary between hotels. Grand Hyatt Singapore requires a non-refundable and non-transferable deposit of S$5,350 (nett) upon firm reservation of a wedding.
Two months before the wedding, a second deposit of 50 per cent of costs — after deducting the first deposit — is then required for event charges. Full payment is required two weeks before the wedding date.
W Singapore-Sentosa Cove requires couples to place a non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit upon confirmation of their wedding. A second deposit, equivalent to 80 per cent of the contracted package, will be required no later than two months before the event.
“While we do view each wedding cancellation with careful consideration, it is not viable to do away with a charge as there is an element of high opportunity cost,” Mr Stephane Fabregoul, General Manager of W Singapore-Sentosa Cove said.
Riverview Hotel’s cancellation policy states that cancelling six months in advance will incur the couple a penalty of 30 per cent of the total anticipated bill. If a wedding is called off three months in advance, the penalty will be 70 per cent of the total anticipated bill, and any notice of less than three months will have the couple paying the anticipated bill in full.
Ms Indrani Bit, Director of Marketing Communications at Grand Hyatt Singapore said: “We welcome the action started by CASE to put in place stipulated guidelines with regards to cancellation of hotel wedding packages, or any corporate/social event packages for that matter. It would safeguard both consumers as well as businesses.”
She also pointed out that before agreeing to a contract and placing their deposits, couples are required to sign off on a binding contract which states in writing that they are agreeable to the payment and cancellation policies stipulated.
“However, we do understand that unforeseen circumstances do happen, so we do exercise flexibility in adjusting our levied penalties and cancellation policies to the benefit of our clients on a case-to-case basis,” she said.
