HotelChatter

The monochrome evildoer in question is the Hotel Le Bleu, an eight-story hotel located near Park Slope, Brooklyn, that usually charges around $229-$279 per night. That's quite a difference from the jacked-up rates that were flying around this weekend during the worst of the Irene-inspired hysteria.

And that's without the rooftop bar, Vue, which closed back in March 2010. So all you're really getting with this place is a room on a desolate stretch of Brooklyn, without much in walking distance. Then again, in a hurricane, you're probably not likely to make use of a rooftop bar. But still!

The Daily News reports:

"'It was just because of [the] high demand,' said an employee, who would not give her name. 'A lot of hotels did that.'

But about 10 blocks away, at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Third Ave., the rates remained unchanged from the usual $240 a night.

An employee at the Fairfield Inn said about 30% of the guests who arrived there Saturday night were people seeking shelter from Irene's torrential rains, but none of them was charged a premium rate."

UPDATE, 10:34am: Hotel Le Bleu has released a statement denying any occurence of a $999-per-night rate, saying the most they have ever charged for a room was $399.

"Our hotel never posted a $999 rate on our website or quoted any person on the phone of such rate. This was strictly an Expedia published rate and we are now going back thru the proper channels to investigate what caused the hotel unnecessary scrutiny with our loyal guests and most importantly, the community we dearly love.

The highest rate any guest paid this past weekend at our sold-out hotel was $269/night. We've been in business for four years and the highest rate our hotel has ever charged is $399/night and that was on New Year's Eve."

What do you think? Is it right to charge so much when guests are left stranded by a category three hurricane? Let us know your thoughts below!