Force majeure

Force majeure (French for "superior force") is a clause in hotel contracts that allows you or the hotel to cancel a booking without penalty when something extraordinary and unavoidable happens, natural disasters, war, pandemics, government restrictions, severe weather, strikes. After Covid-19, this clause became one of the most-discussed in hospitality. Important nuance: a government recommendation to avoid travel doesn't automatically trigger force majeure, it needs to be an actual prohibition (lockdown, border closure, mandatory quarantine). For individual bookings, the standard cancellation policy applies first; force majeure is usually invoked for groups, events, weddings, and large corporate bookings. If facing a force majeure situation, contact the hotel immediately in writing, document everything, and offer to reschedule before requesting a refund.