Howard Johnson Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg

I reserved 2 rooms at this hotel through Amex Travel. The hotel refused to honor our reservations, saying the rates were higher. I called Amex Travel and they offered to fax the reservations to the hotel, the clerk still refused to honor them. Amex Travel had to call them before they would honor the reservation. Then the room we reserved was not what we got, and we got no compensation for our troubles. Also there were 2 other people who came in when we were in the lobby and they were getting the same crap from the clerk. I complained to Howard Johnson's complaint line, and after several phone calls (where they said Howard Johnson's would call me back and never did) they say that because the hotels are "independently owned and operated" Howard Johnson's as a company cannot do anything for me, the hotel has to do something, which they only offered a $5 credit. I am awaiting a call from the office of the president for Howard Johnson's, but I think we should have been refunded. I have travelled all over the world and this is the first time a hotel refused to honor my reservations. This was the first time I had stayed at a Howard Johnson's, and I may not ever again after this; I certainly won't stay at this one again.