Stiff cancellation fees are “now more commonplace,” said Scott Booker, the chief hotel expert at Hotels.com, the online hotel site of Expedia Inc.

Image Credit... Chris Gash

“As a consumer, you have to really look out for that kind of stuff,” he said.

Mr. Booker said that hotels are looking to raise revenue with “not just cancellation fees, but extra-person fees, resort fees, parking fees and Internet fees.”

With more business trips likely to be canceled or modified at the last minute in the current uncertain economic climate, it is increasingly important to read the fine print. Had I known that the St. Regis in Aspen confiscated the full two-day rate, I would simply have made a reservation elsewhere.

Years ago, after business travelers complained loudly about the proliferation of fees, many hotels reduced or eliminated some of them. But that is changing again and extra fees are coming back, Mr. Booker said.

“It’s kind have been floating under the radar a bit because the spotlight has been on the airline industry,” he said. “But it’s definitely happening in the hotel business as well.”

Mr. Booker said that 24 to 48 hours before check-in time is usually the deadline for canceling without charge at hotels that do charge a cancellation fee. Hotels .com does business with about 70,000 hotels worldwide and, for those who book through the site, “we will act as an advocate in your behalf” in negotiating with a hotel over any disputed charge or fee, he said.

Joe Brancatelli, who publishes the business travel Web site Joe SentMe.com, said that some hotels had become more aggressive in adding extra charges. “Hotels saw the airlines getting away with it, and they’re just doing what airlines do,” he said.