The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has caused a number of hotels and travel agencies to offer their customers oil-free guarantees. One of the latest to join in with the promise of refunds to customers if their holiday is disrupted by beach closures is hotel giant Marriott.

In an effort to encourage holidaymakers to come to the Gulf Coast, the hotel chain has announced that they will offer full refunds to any customers who cancel their visits before they arrive, and 50 per cent off the room rate for every day that a beach next to one of their Gulf Coast hotels is officially closed by the authorities.

Marriott’s announcement follows decisions by a number of other hotel chains to offer similar deals as leaking oil continues to cause havoc in the Gulf. Amelia Island Plantation, an exclusive 1,350-acre resort close to the Florida city of Jacksonville, said that it will offer a refund to guests in the event that one of its beaches is closed by the government. It will also offer a full refund on any deposits in the event of a booking cancellation if a beach is closed within two weeks of the arrival date.

Online travel agency Orbitz has also agreed to deliver a full refund to any customer who has booked travel before the end of July if any beaches are closed within a 20 mile radius of any of the properties which it represents. Hilton Worldwide is also guaranteeing ‘Beach Satisfaction’ by offering 100 per cent refunds to customers affected by beach closures.