Welcome to the Blog – Hotel Nightmares: Power Outage Edition
After Hurricane Beryl swept through Southeast Texas, leaving a path of destruction and widespread power outages, many residents found themselves seeking refuge in local hotels. However, what they encountered upon arrival was far from what they had expected.
One viewer recounted how they had made a reservation at a Houston hotel, only to discover upon checking in that the power was out. The desk clerk’s response? “You didn’t say you wanted a room with AC.”
Another individual, Timothy Loving, drove 250 miles in search of a functioning hotel room, only to be disappointed once again when he arrived at a Holiday Inn Express in the Galleria area, only to find that the hotel was also without power.
Sherry Lane shared a similar experience when her sister, who had specifically requested a room with air conditioning at a Holiday Inn Express in Spring, arrived to find that the hotel was also powerless.
In a search conducted by KHOU 11 Reporter Shern-Min Chow, it was discovered that some hotels, such as the Hampton Inn and Suites in the Cypress area, were still without power, while others, like the Holiday Inn Express in the Galleria area, did not disclose this information online.
When contacted, the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association acknowledged the issue, stating that hotel operators are responsible for notifying their brands when availability is affected by electricity issues. In cases where guests were not informed prior to arrival, complaints can be directed to the parent chain for resolution.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, you can also reach out to the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association for assistance. However, Holiday Inn Express’ parent company, Intercontinental Hotels Group, has yet to respond to requests for comment.