Hotwire promises to reimburse basketball team after they were stranded

A group of Maritime basketball players who were stranded in New Jersey after a hotel booking mix-up Thanksgiving weekend have been promised their money back.

The We Will Win Youth Association's basketball team travelled back to Nova Scotia Monday after playing in a tournament in the state. They had booked 17 rooms at the Crowne Plaza through the online travel site Hotwire, but when they arrived Friday night, they were told Hotwire had cancelled their reservation.

Part of the group of more than 40 teenagers and their parents, were left scrambling to find a place to stay. They spent five hours in the hotel lobby, until finally securing rooms at another hotel at 1 a.m.

"It soured the trip in a big way," said Colter Simmonds, founder of the group.

"But I'm a strong believer in staying positive in the worst situation. And by us staying positive and staying together, on the court the kids really, really came together."

In an email Monday from Hotwire, spokesperson Carrie Peters told CBC News the Crowne Plaza contacted Hotwire to say it wouldn't be able to honour the reservation, but Hotwire did not then notify Simmonds about this.

"Today we are conducting further research to determine the root cause of the issue and will be in touch with Mr. Simmonds to discuss any further actions in support of the inconvenience we caused," she said.

"We apologize to the players as well as the organizers of the We Will Win Foundation."

The children, ranging in age from 12 to 15, were participating in the Under Armour Hoop Group Jam Fest. They travelled from the Halifax-area, Windsor, N.S., and Moncton, N.B. Simmonds said they fundraised $5,000 to go on the trip.

Peters said Hotwire officials contacted Simmonds Sunday to apologize and confirm that a refund will be issued.

The refund amounts to about $3,500.

Simmonds said the group often books using the discount hotel website in order to save money, but he won't be booking again with Hotwire.