Crowne Plaza Hotel, Irvine, California DIDN'T STAY BUT HAD TO PAY--RIPOFF!! , Internet

Here's the story.  Crowne Plaza Hotels ripped me and my nonprofit agency off.  Months ago I reserved a room for three nights in October 2009 at their Irvine hotel.  Five days before my stay I called to say I would only need the room for 2 nights.  When I arrived at the hotel and they told me I was supposed to arrive the day before.  I said I spoke to Doug in reservations (I did).  They said they have no Doug.  Not my problem, the guy I spoke to said his name was Doug.  Maybe he lied, who knows.  Anyway when I checked out, they charged me for the night I DIDN'T stay.  Multiple phone conversations later with  the company's national customer service line and people at the hotel have only resulted in them telling me that they will not refund my money for the night I DIDN'T stay at their hotel.  This is unmittigated, total theivery.  I should be able to change my reservation, if I give them enough notice to book the room to someone else, and I did, plenty of time.  Further, even if the reservation is "non-refundable" I should get a credit for a free night's stay at a Crowne Plaza.  I deal with other organizations as I travel, and even with nonrefundable air fares and things like that, if you cancel in time you get a CREDIT  For Crowne Plaza to just steal my money in this situation is out of step with the rest of the travel industry and a total outrage.  I URGE EVERYONE TO NEVER STAY AT A CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL!