Not sure if they're still doing it, but American Express once had an "Assured Reservation Program", which I've used. It locks in your reservation and price, and Amex will go to bat for you if a hotel tries to pull a fast one like this.
I've only leveraged it once, where a (Westin) resort hotel told me my room was not available when I arrived to check in. After I called Amex, The hotel ended up giving me a penthouse suite for the same price.
"The Assured Reservation Program allows Cardmembers to contact a participating
property or rental agency to make an Assured Reservation and guarantee the
reservation by giving their American Express Card. The Assured Reservation Program is
available to the following industries: hotel, trailer park/campground, vehicle, aircraft,
bicycle, boat, equipment, motor home, and motorcycle rentals."
I've only leveraged it once, where a (Westin) resort hotel told me my room was not available when I arrived to check in. After I called Amex, The hotel ended up giving me a penthouse suite for the same price.
"The Assured Reservation Program allows Cardmembers to contact a participating property or rental agency to make an Assured Reservation and guarantee the reservation by giving their American Express Card. The Assured Reservation Program is available to the following industries: hotel, trailer park/campground, vehicle, aircraft, bicycle, boat, equipment, motor home, and motorcycle rentals."
https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/us/merchant...