2 motels accused of blizzard price-gouging

ALBUQUERQUE, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Two Albuquerque, N.M., motels are being accused of price-gouging travelers stranded by a recent blizzard.

A Best Western and an Econo Lodge allegedly tripled their room rates to take advantage of travelers trapped by closed roads and canceled airline flights, the Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday. Travelers accused the Best Western of charging $160 for rooms costing as little as $54, and the Econo Lodge of charging $108 for a room worth $52.

A spokesman for Econo Lodge denied any knowledge of price-gouging and told the Journal the company would investigate the matter internally. A spokeswoman for Best Western told the newspaper that the company plans to send refunds of the excess amount to those who were overcharged.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez told the Journal that the hotels "ought to be ashamed of themselves." The city is investigating the matter for a possible violation of New Mexico's Unfair Trade Practices Act.