Taylor Swift fans claim woman who booked 191 hotel rooms ahead of concert scammed them

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) – Some Taylor Swift fans now have “bad blood” with a Louisiana woman who booked 191 rooms at the Holiday Inn Downtown in New Orleans for the pop star’s concert series last weekend.

When Swift announced the end of her tour in New Orleans, Metairie’s Rebecca Fox rushed to block hotel rooms.

Fox says she took a $25 deposit per person on top of the nearly $500 per room.

Fox said last week that the hotel had agreed to her event, which she posted about on social media.

“They were very scared, but I think once their marketing and sales guy said, ‘I don’t think you all understand what Taylor can do and what he’ll bring to our property,’ they changed their minds.” Fox said.

Fox said she did not charge extra for the rooms and did not make a profit on the bookings. She said the $25 per person she charged went toward funding her planned “Eras Convention.”

But when some Swift fans attended the convention and other Fox-sponsored events, they were surprised and disappointed.

“Everybody works really hard for their money, and any time someone is promised a product they’re buying or an event, they should be given what they paid for,” Meagan Trainom said.

Trainom said she traveled from Memphis, Tennessee, for the concert with her daughter. They did not stay at the Holiday Inn, but said they paid for several events organized by Fox’s unit, the Friendship Bracelet Project.

“The ballroom was completely empty and there were about three vendors there,” Trainom said. “I asked them if we were in the right place and they said, ‘We have no idea.’

Trainom said despite the disappointments, her family still had fun in New Orleans.

Attendees said other events Fox promoted, including a DJ dance party, did not meet their needs. The DJ who originally booked the event said that despite numerous requests, Fox never confirmed the performance.

“I think by continuing to take people’s money, to push sales of these events, knowing that it won’t be what was advertised, I listen to enough podcasts. Sounds like a scam to me,” the New Orleans DJ told Warm Advice.

Fox said in a text message that she had hired an attorney and declined several interview requests. In the text, she stated that her lawyer was out of the country and wanted her to wait before testifying.

However, Fox posted a message on her Facebook page: “I know I failed. I accepted that I failed.”

Dozens of people are now demanding refunds from Fox and Holiday Inn.

Security shooed away a WVUE reporter and declined to make anyone available for comment. IHG, Holiday Inn’s parent company, did not respond to questions.

Meanwhile, one Swift fan from Texas who couldn’t attend last weekend’s event but had friends staying at the hotel said she was concerned about Fox making people healthy, as well as her mental health.

“There needs to be an aspect of grace and forgiveness,” Julia Smith said.

Louisiana Attorney General spokeswoman Liz Murrill said her office had not received any complaints about the event. The Attorney General is looking into allegations from hotels that they have canceled reservations and rebooked them at higher rates.

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