Baymont by Wyndham Springfield (Illinois)

“Relax and unwind in our indoor pool,” Baymont by Wyndham Springfield (Illinois) says on its website, next to a photo of the pool in immaculate condition.

But the reality is guests haven’t been able to use the indoor pool for months, according to a hotel employee who picked up the phone when TINA.org called. Despite the advertising of the sought-after amenity on the hotel website, the employee said the pool has been closed since before the pandemic. When we asked to speak to a manager, the employee hung up.

TINA.org was following up on a recent tip from a reader. The reader said he booked a room at the hotel after seeing “ads listing a[n] indoor pool and a hot tub and a breakfast.” When he arrived, there was a note saying none of the amenities were available. He said the pool looked like it hadn’t been “operational for a long time.”

Our reader said he canceled his reservation as a result of not getting what was advertised but was charged a $60 cancellation fee.

Similar complaints regarding the false advertising of available amenities have been left on the hotel’s TripAdvisor page, including one from earlier this month that claimed the owner is aware of the issue but refuses to make changes to the website.

Springfield isn’t the only Baymont location that falsely advertises that guests will have access to an indoor pool. A Baymont Inn & Suites in Branford, Connecticut, just down the road from our office, invites consumers to “[e]njoy a dip in our indoor pool.” But according to a TripAdvisor review posted July 25, the pool is closed.

TINA.org reached out to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which describes itself as the largest hotel franchisor in the world, for comment. Check back for updates.

Find more of our coverage on advertised hotel amenities here.