How do deposits, incidental holds, and preauthorizations work at IHG hotels?

Deposit: Money collected under the rate or hotel policy, sometimes before arrival. Whether it is refundable depends on the reservation terms.

Authorization hold or preauthorization: A temporary reservation of available funds used to validate the card or cover estimated room, tax, and incidental amounts.

Incidental charges: Purchases or costs generated during the stay, such as dining, parking, minibar, or other hotel services.

Final charge: The completed amount posted after the hotel closes or settles the hotel bill.

Review the rate rules and total price details for any required deposit or prepayment. Property-specific incidental-hold information may not appear with the nightly rate, so contact the hotel when the expected hold amount or accepted payment method affects your trip budget.

At check-in, the hotel may request a card and place a hold according to its policy. At checkout, the final hotel bill is settled. The final charge and the temporary hold can appear at the same time until the card issuer releases the hold.

Debit card holds can reduce the available account balance while they remain open. Ask the issuing bank how pending authorizations affect access to funds.

Compare the pending and posted transactions with the final hotel bill.

Contact the hotel to confirm whether the amount is a hold, deposit, or completed charge.

Contact the card issuer for the status and release timing of a pending authorization.

If a posted hotel charge is incorrect, keep the hotel bill and supporting records while the hotel reviews it. 

Contact the hotel for its deposit and incidental policy. Contact the card issuer for pending-hold status and release timing. Contact IHG Customer Care if a hotel billing issue remains unresolved.