Why does he think that visiting somebody in the hotel would make any difference as to whether he owes the parking fine anyway? If I park on a double yellow line and get a ticket it doesn't make any difference why I did it
Quite a few years ago a hotel who had signs about guest only-must register but didn't actually have a parking system, suddenly acquired a parking system. I had reason to visit for a booking (have occasionally stayed there for personal reasons), did what I usually did, received a ticket. Looking online I could see many guests complaining about this sudden change in their reviews, basically lots of guests had been caught out. I phoned the hotel explained I had met a friend there, they empathised/recognised the change had not been communicate well and promised to arrange for the ticket to be cancelled. I received a ticket reminder, phoned hotel again, this time they stopped it.
On next return to this hotel I found huge very obvious signs both in car park, at front door and all over reception.
If I'm working or meeting a client in a hotel I always check the parking arrangements and advise the client, some do the same for me on arrival, but frustratingly some have given me duff information. Sometimes these have been clients who make a big fuss, claim to be concerned about my welfare, want to do whatever is best for me. Anyhow my car my responsibility which is why I take it seriously.
My advice for the client is phone the hotel, tell them he didn't realise was meeting a friend for coffee, got distracted, talking, very sorry can you rescind this. This might work.