TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – More ticket holders for events hosted by Music Getaways LLC are requesting refunds following last-minute cancellations.
Music Getaways is owned by smooth jazz saxophonist Warren Hill.
The company, which is in the midst of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, suddenly canceled its Solfest & Jazz Festival, scheduled for October in Los Cabos, Mexico, and the RNB Festival, scheduled for last weekend in Cancun, Mexico. Until the change, they continued to accept new reservations.
Some ticket holders who purchased tickets to the Cancun Jazz Festival last weekend received an email from organizers telling them not to come because rooms were overbooked.
The event took place, but with a much more limited lineup than originally advertised.
News 4 Tucson investigators spoke to more than a dozen ticket holders from various events, all of whom said they learned about the cancellation about a week before the event.
In both cases, Music Getaways has changed the dates, but has not announced the new dates or even the venue where the event will take place.
All the ticket holders we spoke to want refunds, like Pamela Bundy and Candace Hollins in Arizona.
“It’s not fair. You’re taking people’s money when they’re not in a position to provide a product or service,” Bundy said.
She spent thousands of dollars to attend Los Cabos Solfest.
“We paid about $3,500 for the actual festival and about $1,100 for the flight tickets,” she said.
“This is thousands of dollars that we have worked hard to save for the specific purpose of doing something to enjoy ourselves,” Hollins said.
When they bought their tickets, neither of them knew that News 4 Tucson Investigators had reported on Music Getaways’ past failed festivals.
In January, News 4 Tucson reported how dozens of ticket holders were fighting for refunds after Solfest and Comedy Jam in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, was canceled at the last minute.
Some ticket holders had already arrived at the airport when they saw the cancellation email the day before, while others were already in Punta Cana and stranded without even being able to book a hotel room.
“I feel robbed,” said Kristi Herndon, an Arizona resident who bought tickets to the event.
Many of them are still left without money. The venue, Hard Rock Punta Cana, accused Music Getaways of not paying anything to book the rooms.
Music Getaways has denied these allegations, but declined to speak with News4 Tucson investigators as the expected lawsuit is pending, but they are confident they have done nothing wrong. he told us.
Many of these ticket holders were offered to attend the event in Los Cabos or Cancun in lieu of a refund. Now those who relied on that deal are once again at a loss.
Patricia Williams and a group of friends had paid all-expenses to attend the Cancun RNB Festival to celebrate her birthday, but only days before the event they learned the event would not be held.
“I was ready,” Williams said.
“I was checking the website from time to time and it said tickets were limited, so I thought this was sold out. “I was doing it,” Williams said. his friend Lula Banks;
The event did not sell out, but a notice from organizers said it had to be rescheduled due to cancellations and low ticket sales. They accused a group of so-called disgruntled customers of spreading false information to customers, vendors and hotel partners.
“We didn’t hand over money just to hand over money expecting something,” Banks said.
Music Getaways has more than $7.3 million in debt, according to documents related to the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ticket holders we spoke to have little faith they will get their money back.
“I don’t know what to do,” Williams said.
Many ticket holders filed complaints with the attorney general of California, where Music Getaways is based.
N4T investigators contacted the attorney general, and a spokesperson said he could neither confirm nor deny that an investigation had begun.
N4T investigators again asked Music Getaways for a statement regarding the recent cancellations, but did not receive a response.
If you have a story you’d like News 4 Tucson investigators to look into, email investigators@kvoa.com or call the tip line at 520-834-9446.