Cancel for Any Reason FAQ

The Cancel for Any Reason add-on provides guests the flexibility to cancel a reservation and get a refund for the room cost—no explanation required. This feature is available during checkout in the Cloudbeds Booking Engine for properties using Smart Policies.

This article answers common questions and provides helpful information about this product.

 Availability of Cancel for Any Reason

The Cancel for Any Reason add-on is currently being released in phases. Following the initial pilot, it is being gradually enabled for all eligible Cloudbeds properties through Q1 2026.

Can guests add Cancel for Any Reason after booking?

No. Cancel for Any Reason is only available during the checkout process in the Booking Engine:

 

If the option is not shown at that time, it cannot be added later.

Cancel for Any Reason is displayed dynamically based on several factors like rate plan, cancellation policy, booking timing, and risk assessment. Guests cannot request to add it after the booking is completed.

If a guest contacts you asking to add Cancel for Any Reason to an existing reservation, let them know it must be selected at the time of booking and cannot be retroactively applied.

How can I see if a reservation includes Cancel for Any Reason in the PMS?

There is no special label or tag shown in the reservation list. This is most visible when canceling the reservation. If a reservation includes Cancel for Any Reason, you will see a message indicating that the policy is attached. 

How do guests cancel a reservation with Cancel for Any Reason?

Guests can cancel their reservation using any of the following methods:

  1. Use the cancellation link included in the Cancel for Any Reason confirmation email (goes to the third-party HTS portal).
  2. Access the Cloudbeds Guest Portal via the link sent by email, and cancel.
  3. Call your property directly, and staff can cancel the reservation in the PMS as usual.

No special cancellation steps are needed in the PMS—the reservation status just needs to be changed to “Cancelled.”

What should I say to guests asking about Cancel for Any Reason cancellations?

If a guest contacts your property to cancel, you should:

  1. Cancel the reservation in the PMS (standard flow).
  2. Inform the guest: “I see your reservation includes a Cancel for Any Reason policy. I can proceed with the cancellation, but please note that this service is managed by a third-party provider. Be sure to check the email you received at the time of booking for more information on next steps.”

Will my property need to process a refund?

In most cases, no. Refunds for Cancel for Any Reason-protected reservations are handled by HTS, the third-party provider. Your property does not need to issue a refund as long as the reservation is canceled correctly in Cloudbeds PMS.

However, if the guest cancels during a period when your property's standard cancellation policy still offers a full refund, your property is responsible for issuing that refund. Cancel for Any Reason only activates once your property's free cancellation period has passed.

For example, a guest books a room with a “Flexible — 7 days” cancellation policy. This means they can cancel up to 7 days before check-in and still receive a full refund from the hotel. 

These are the Reservation Details:

  • Check-in: September 22, 2025
  • Rate plan: Flexible — 7 days
  • Total reservation cost: $1,000.00
  • Cancel for Any Reason fee paid: $150.00 (non-refundable)

These are the three possible scenarios:

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3

Guest cancels more than 7 days before check-in (hotel policy applies)

Cancellation Timing: Guest cancels on September 13, 2025 (more than 7 days before check-in).

Refund Outcome: The hotel’s standard policy applies. The guest receives a full refund of $1,000.00 directly from your property. The $150 Cancel for Any Reason fee is not used or refunded.

What happens if a guest cancels late?

If the guest cancels their reservation:

  1. Before the cancellation deadline defined by the reservation's rate plan – the hotel is responsible for the refund, based on the rate plan’s cancellation policy.
  2. After the rate plan’s cancellation deadline but before check-in – the Cancel for Any Reason coverage applies, and the refund is processed by HTS (the third-party provider).
  3. No-show – Cancel for Any Reason does not apply. The guest is not eligible for a refund.

What happens if the guest misses the Cancel for Any Reason cancellation deadline?

If the guest does not attempt to cancel before the deadline listed in their confirmation email, their Cancel for Any Reason coverage will expire and cannot be used.

In this case, the cancellation will follow your property's standard cancellation policy — and the guest may not be eligible for any refund.

However, if the guest did try to cancel on time but had technical issues, they should contact HTS directly using the link in their confirmation email. HTS will evaluate the case and may coordinate directly with your property to process the cancellation and refund manually.

What if the guest has trouble canceling their reservation through Cancel for Any Reason?

If the guest experiences a technical error while trying to cancel using the Cancel for Any Reason link in their email, they should contact HTS directly through the support portal: https://hopper-cloud-hotelCancel for Any Reason.kustomer.help/

HTS will help complete the process. In some cases, they may reach out to your property to cancel the reservation and process the refund manually.

What if the guest used Cancel for Any Reason but hasn’t received a refund?

Guests should be directed to HTS for updates on their refund status. HTS will verify whether the cancellation was completed successfully.

  • If it was completed within 14 days, HTS will confirm the expected refund timeline and where the refund was sent (e.g., credit card, bank, PayPal).
  • If it’s been more than 14 days, HTS will escalate internally to verify if an error occurred and follow up with the guest.

Guests can contact HTS via their email confirmation or directly through the support portal: https://hopper-cloud-hotelCancel for Any Reason.kustomer.help/

Can guests cancel part of a reservation?

No. Cancel for Any Reason applies to the entire reservation:

  • All guests must cancel—partial cancellations are not allowed.
  • All rooms must cancel—multi-room reservations must be canceled in full.

Are there any guest restrictions or refund limitations?

Yes. The Cancel for Any Reason option is displayed dynamically in the Booking Engine based on several factors, including your property's cancellation policy and the likelihood of a guest needing to cancel (i.e., reservation risk).

  • If your rate plan already allows full cancellation up to the time of arrival, Cancel for Any Reason will not be offered, since there would be no additional benefit to the guest.
  • If a guest is booking a same-day reservation after your listed check-in time, Cancel for Any Reason will not appear, as the cancellation window has effectively passed.
  • Guests are covered by Cancel for Any Reason as long as they cancel before the scheduled check-in time.
  • No-shows are not eligible for a refund through Cancel for Any Reason, even if the service was purchased.
  • Refunds only apply to the room base rate and applicable taxes. Add-ons or service fees (like the Cancel for Any Reason fee itself) are non-refundable.

  Important: If a guest contacts your property to cancel a Cancel for Any Reason-covered reservation, your only responsibility is to cancel the booking in the PMS if requested.

Refunds for Cancel for Any Reason are managed exclusively by the third-party provider HTS. Cloudbeds Support and property staff are not involved in the refund process.

The guest must follow the instructions in their confirmation email and contact HTS directly for any refund questions or support.

How can guests contact HTS for support?

Guests should visit the HTS support portal using the link in their Cancel for Any Reason confirmation email. The portal includes:

  • Full FAQ and refund status updates
  • Live chat support available 24/7
  • Links to Terms & Conditions and Contact Support

 

  Note: HTS is a third-party provider. Cloudbeds Support cannot assist with Cancel for Any Reason refunds or questions. Guests should always be directed to check their Cancel for Any Reason confirmation email for the correct support path.

Learn more about Cancel for Any Reason coverage

 For full details on timing requirements, coverage rules, and refund scenarios, see How Our Cancel For Any Reason Protection Works.

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