Party conference hotels expect payment in full

The 334-bedroom Hilton Brighton Metropole, which next week is the headquarters for the Labour Party conference in Brighton, said guests cutting short their stays would be subject to the hotel's usual rules and conditions.

Most delegates are due to arrive this Sunday. They were originally expected to stay until next Thursday, but following Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to recall parliament early, the conference will now finish on Wednesday.

Metropole general manager Andrew Swindells said the whole hotel had been booked for the conference two years in advance and the accommodation was already paid for.

The 181-bedroom Imperial Hotel in Blackpool, which is the headquarters for the Conservative Party during its annual conference on 8-10 October, is likely to be less affected by the decision to axe the final day's proceedings.

General manager Mark Edwards thought most delegates would stay until Thursday 11 October as an event was being held on the Wednesday evening.