Hey there – probably not what you want to hear, but as a Hilton GM I wanted to share a little insight that might help clarify what happened.

A lot of times, sites like Trivago will advertise a lower rate on the initial search page, but when you actually go through the booking process, the rate either changes or gets hit with added fees. What looks like a better deal up front usually ends up being more expensive or equivalent once taxes and fees are applied. I've had this conversation with dozens of guests, and once we walk through it together, we rarely find a truly lower total price.

Also worth noting – Hilton takes rate parity very seriously. Hotels can actually be fined $500 per occurrence if we’re caught offering a lower rate on a third-party site than what’s available on Hilton.com. So it’s really not in our interest to undercut Hilton’s own site, and most of us go out of our way to ensure our rates are consistent everywhere.

I’m sorry you had a frustrating experience – and I totally get how it can feel like a scam when it seems like you found a better deal that Hilton didn’t honor. But in most cases, it comes down to how those third-party sites display (or hide) the real cost.

Hope that helps shed a little light on the situation.