Langham hotel in Pasadena owes refunds to some Eaton Fire victims – NBC Los Angeles

The owner of a luxury hotel in Pasadena has agreed to pay Los Angeles County $320,000 and issue refunds to some Eaton Fire survivors after being accused of price gouging during the devastating wildfire, LA officials announced this week.

The LA County District Attorney’s Office had sued Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation, which owns the Langham Huntington Pasadena, alleging the five-star hotel price gouged wildfire survivors and other guests after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in January 2025. Later, the Board of Supervisors stepped in to protect wildfire survivors by extending local price-gouging safeguards for hotel stays through March 29, 2026.

The LA County DA’s office said the Pasadena-based hotel charged guests more than 10% above its regular rates. Room rates at the Langham typically range from $200 to $1,700 per night.

“During a time when our community was meant to come together to help those in need, Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation profited from other people’s tragedies,” LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.

After reaching the agreement to settle the civil lawsuit with the DA’s office, Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation will pay $300,000 in civil penalties and $20,000 in investigative costs to the LA County government.

Also under the settlement, the hotel must pay restitution and refund guests who stayed at the Pasadena location between Jan. 7, 2025, and March 29, 2026, returning any money collected above the legal price limit.

The company was also ordered to pay restitution and issue refunds to those who stayed at the hotel between Jan. 7, 2025, and March 29, 2026, for all amounts paid above the maximum allowable hotel rate.

“This settlement provides full refunds of the illegal overcharges to consumers who were price gouged during a horrifying wildfire emergency and sends a message to other businesses to comply with the law,” County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison said.

The amount of money the hotel must refund is at least $216,000 between January and April 2025 alone, according to LA County’s estimate.

The Langham is also required to adjust its automated pricing systems to make sure its room prices do not increase during a delcared state of emergency in the future, the DA’s office added.

By reaching the agreement with LA County, Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation did not admit liability.