Conventions are big business in the United States.
In the past, most hotels strained to avoid disputes with groups that canceled their conventions at the hotels, preferring to swallow cancellation losses rather than offend convention clients. However, the current recession and the overbuilding of hotel space in the last 5-10 years has resulted in a new attitude by hotel chains. But we also expect you to honor your promises to us. The following case is a real one, although I have added some details. But Harvard refused to settle, stating that it was willing to give up its deposit, but contending that the cancellation was unavoidable because of U.S. laws restricting the ability of HIV-infected people to enter the country.