The news that a hotel neat Venice was selling room nights at one cent a night spread like wildfire around the web.
Unfortunately for the hotel the price was set by error - rooms actually cost 150 euros per night.
By the time the hotel management at the Crowne Plaza understood what was going on and was able to stop it over 1400 room bookings has taken place from 228 people.
The hotel's sales manager, Fulvio Danesin, said that the hotel first thought the advert had been posted by a hacker. Later, it was discovered that it was a human error made at the hotel's mother company offices in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Although a pricing error, IHG is committed to honouring the 1-cent rate for guests who have a valid confirmation," said Monica Smith, the media relations manager for the group.
The hotel is estimated to have lost about 90,000 euros as a result of the mistake.
