I had something similar happen in Germany in the mid 90's. I was traveling for business and stayed at a hotel which my employer had an account with. My employer

I had something similar happen in Germany in the mid 90's. I was traveling for business and stayed at a hotel which my employer had an account with. My employer was evidently late paying the account. When I and a co-worker went to checkout they wouldn't let us leave until our employer wired them money to settle the full balance of the account. As in this case the local police sided with the hotel.