Hotels and motels hiking are rates to cash in on Hurricane Matthew
As Florida Gov. Rick Scott was telling millions of Sunshine State residents to get out of harm’s way as Hurricane Matthew began to pound the east coast. So, while Floridians seek shelter they are finding the motel and hotels prices being raised because of the storm.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi plans to penalize any businesses, including local hotels, that price gouge customers in the lead up and aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The AG was a guest on the Fox Business Network and wanted it to be known she was going to allow any price gouging.
“If you are a hotel and you’re increasing your prices, we are going after you. You cannot increase your prices in a state of emergency,” Bondi said during an interview with FOX Business Network’s Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast.
Bondi said her office has investigators monitoring businesses around the clock to ensure that any hurricane victims won’t suffer financially due to price hikes. She warned residents should take all necessary safety measures and recommended Floridians travel from East to West to find safer grounds.
“It’s sickening if you are a hotel and you are raising your prices to profit from people who are out of their homes and need a place to stay,” Bondi told host Neil Cavuto.
The attorney general said the majority of its residents are listening to Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Division of Emergency Management and leaving the areas where Hurricane Matthew is planning to make the most damage.
“From what we are seeing, the majority of our citizens are listening to the governor; they are listening to the emergency operation center, they are leaving town,” she said.
Meanwhile, there was some good news as Hurricane Matthew approaches the east coast, Rosen Hotels & Resorts in Orlando is offering discounts to Floridians looking for shelter from the storm.
Special rates range from $55 to $105 nightly for hurricane evacuees and displaced Florida residents, according to Orlando Sentinel. However, Rosen Hotel spokeswoman Mary Deatrick told the Sentinel that most of the Rosen properties are already at capacity.
Visit Florida has created an online list of hotels with availability for people who still need to find shelter.
Video from Fox News
