Russia’s Economy Ministry plans renewed push for non-refundable hotel bookings

Deputy minister Dmitry Vakhrukov said the ministry would again seek legislation allowing travellers to choose cheaper bookings without a cancellation refund.

Speaking on RBC’s Tamantsev programme, Vakhrukov described travellers reserving rooms in several hotels and cancelling all but one at the last minute. He said the cancelled rooms can then remain empty because hotels no longer have time to find replacement customers.

The proposed approach would offer a lower-priced option carrying no refund on cancellation. Vakhrukov framed it as a matter of responsibility for both guests and hotels and said the industry had requested the change. His claim that multiple speculative reservations increase other room prices was presented as the ministry’s assessment.

The announcement concerns a renewed legislative initiative, rather than an enacted rule. Vakhrukov said he would raise the issue again this year but did not announce a bill’s passage, an effective date or a specific discount. His remarks therefore do not establish that travellers’ existing cancellation terms have changed.