What is "force majeure" in a hotel cancellation policy?
Force majeure means an extraordinary event outside either party's control that makes the booking impossible - natural disasters, war, pandemics, or government orders.
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What force majeure actually covers
"Force majeure" is a legal term meaning "superior force." In a hotel cancellation policy, it excuses one or both sides from fulfilling the contract when an extraordinary event makes performance genuinely impossible - not merely difficult or expensive.
Common force majeure events
- Natural disasters: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions.
- Public health events: pandemics, quarantines, government-mandated closures.
- War, civil unrest, terrorism, or serious civil disorder at or near the hotel.
- Major infrastructure failures affecting the hotel's ability to operate.
- Government orders that prevent travel or hotel operation (border closures, travel bans).
What usually doesn't count
- Personal illness, missed flights, or work changes on your side.
- Bad weather that inconveniences travel but doesn't stop the hotel from operating.
- Economic hardship or currency changes.
What refunds are possible under force majeure
If the hotel physically can't provide the service (destroyed, ordered closed, evacuated), you're typically entitled to a full refund. Contact trip1 support with the booking reference and evidence of the force majeure event (news links, government advisories).
If the event happened but doesn't stop the hotel from operating (e.g. flooding nearby but the hotel is fine), the standard cancellation policy usually applies. Travel insurance may then be your best route to recover non-refundable costs.
force majeure hotel policy - FAQ
Force majeure is a legal term meaning "superior force". In a hotel cancellation policy, it is an extraordinary event outside either side's control that makes the booking genuinely impossible to honour, not merely difficult or expensive. When it applies, it can excuse the hotel, the guest or both from the contract.
Typical examples are natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires, pandemics and government-mandated closures, war, civil unrest and terrorism near the hotel, and major infrastructure failures. Government orders that stop travel or hotel operation, like border closures, also count. Whether an event qualifies depends on the hotel's terms and local law.
Personal problems usually do not count: illness, a missed flight or a change of work plans. Bad weather that makes travel harder but does not stop the hotel operating usually does not count either, and neither do economic hardship or currency changes. In those cases the booking's normal cancellation policy applies.
If the hotel physically cannot provide your stay because it was destroyed, ordered closed or evacuated, you are typically entitled to a full refund. Contact trip1 support with your booking reference and evidence such as news links or government advisories, and trip1 mediates with the hotel. If the hotel can still operate, the standard cancellation policy usually applies.
It depends on your policy. Some travel insurance covers non-refundable losses caused by force majeure events, so check your policy's list of covered events. Insurance is often the best route to recover a non-refundable booking when the event happened but the hotel kept operating and the normal cancellation policy applies.