Prineville hotel 1 of 9 in eclipse room-rate investigation

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Officials are investigating nine Oregon hotels — including one in Prineville — who travelers claim canceled their room reservations and inflated prices ahead of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2o2uNjA) more than a dozen people filled complaints against nine hotels to the Oregon Department of Justice.

Consumers said on TripAdvisor they had made advanced reservations at the Stafford Inn in Prineville for about $170. The reservations were later canceled because of new ownership or rebranding claims. The rooms’ price was updated to $600 to $635.

Stafford Inn manager Laurie Romine says the very same thing is going on all over the place.

Department spokeswoman Ellen Klem says hotels are allowed to charge any price, but should not be deceptive in their advertising or marketing.

Klem says the hotels could face a $25,000 fine.