By Jordyn Jagolinzer, WBZ-TV
FOXBORO- another bride is in a fight with a hotel over price increases around Gillette Stadium after Taylor Swift announced her tour dates.
Arianna Stevenson comes from Haverhill. She has been engaged for 2 years and is looking forward to her wedding this spring in Wrentham.
“The hope was to have an amazing weekend, to stay at Patriot Place with my family and friends, and then have our wedding there,” Stevenson said.
When Taylor Swift announced her 2023 concert tour dates, the Renaissance Hotel in Foxboro told her she would have to pay more for the block of rooms.
Stevenson said, “I have a lot of rooms booked in this block of rooms.”
Although these rooms are reserved, they are no longer $250. Stevenson continued, “It’s going to be $750 for the room, that’s before taxes, and $60 valet fee.”
His agreement with the Renaissance said that an event like this would change the terms of the contract. Arianna Stevenson says she didn’t expect the price to go up to three times what she was supposed to pay.
Lawyer Adrian LeCesne told WBZ that a Massachusetts law is intended to protect consumers from this type of situation. Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 93A.
“If you triple the price, you have to give the person reasonable time to prepare their finances because even a party that wants to comply may not be able to do so,” attorney LeCesne said.
Stevenson says she has no options at this point.
“No other hotels allow booking, and all hotels say they are full.”
She may have to cancel the hotel and venue for her wedding if her family can’t find anywhere to stay nearby. LeCesne said that could entitle him to damages.
“People who book ahead try to take advantage of the bargain, it’s usually a respected part of the contract,” LeCesne said. “Here she wants to preserve the price in the deal and there should be some protection for that.”
In a statement to WBZ, a representative for Marriott said the following:
“We take customer concerns very seriously and work directly with our customers in good faith to resolve any contract issues. We generally do not comment on specific contracts out of respect for customer privacy.”
Stevenson said she couldn’t get married at the Marriott property, the Renaissance, if she and her guests had to pay nearly a thousand dollars a night.