GALVESTON – A Texas Panhandle resident’s lawsuit asserts that the plaintiff was wrongfully charged for a local hotel room which did not meet his specifications.
Gary Bellair initiated legal action against Gopal Govind Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Four Points by Sheraton Galveston, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, LLC on Feb. 19 in the Galveston County Court at Law No. 2.
Bellair reportedly reserved “a junior suite with a terrace at the rate of $244.72” for a stay beginning on Fri., Feb. 17, 2017, and ending on Sun., Feb. 19, 2017 in October 2016.
When the petitioner checked in at the Four Points; however, he immediately discovered that the room did not have a terrace, the suit says.
According to Bellair, his request for a room with a terrace was to no avail since “other guests already occupied the terrace suites.” The front-desk agent also allegedly told the complainant that “he could take it or leave it.”
“Bellair heard an observer, who had the air and attitude of a disinterested owner, comment that Starwood overbooked Four Points’ terrace suites on a regular basis but neither the front–desk agent nor the observer offered any accommodation for the overbooking,” the original petition says.
Court documents further state that Bellair went to another hotel and paid for a room with a terrace which had a rate higher than what he originally booked at the Four Points.
“Bellair notified Starwood, who in turn notified Four Points, of his complaint concerning the ‘bait and switch’ overbooking practices of Four Points and Starwood; however, the most offered by either was the feeble apology of another front–desk agent at Four Points,” the suit says.
It adds that the plaintiff then discovered the charge in question though he declined the agent’s “take it or leave it” offer.
Consequently, Bellair seeks unspecified monetary damages.
He is represented by Billy R. Wolfe of the law firm Wolfe & Associates in Lubbock.
Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 Cause No. CV-83086