A sprinkler waters a field amidst wildfire smoke in Aumsville on Tuesday, September 8. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A Salem hotel is among four lodging establishments that have settled for a total of $105,600 with the Oregon Department of Justice over price gouging following the 2020 wildfires.
Capital Inn & Suites, located at 1875 Fisher Rd N.E., has paid out $1,342 in refunds to customers who were overcharged, according to a press release. The hotel has also agreed to pay the state $38,000.
Following the Labor Day wildfires, which displaced tens of thousands of Oregonians, Gov. Kate Brown declared an abnormal market disruption. The declaration meant that businesses couldn’t increase prices for goods and services by 15% or more.
According to the press release, Capital Inn typically charged between $60 and $80 per night for one room. The department’s investigation found instances of the hotel charging $135 a night after the declaration, with one room going for $146.25.
Management of the hotel did not respond to a phone call seeking comment Friday afternoon.
The other hotels that settled with the department include Le Chateau Inn in Florence, Rodeway Inn Willamette River in Corvallis and Days Inn by Wyndham in Roseburg.
-Jake Thomas
