diff --git a/backend/src/routes/chat.ts b/backend/src/routes/chat.ts
index 05a30de..4200711 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/chat.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/chat.ts
@@ -341,8 +341,13 @@ const chatRoutes: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
       const hotelId = await getHotelId(slug)
       if (!hotelId) return reply.code(404).send({ error: 'Hotel not found' })
 
-      const { name, memberIds } = request.body
+      const name = request.body?.name
+      // Frontend sends snake_case (transformKeysToSnake converts camelCase)
+      const memberIds: string[] = Array.isArray((request.body as Record<string, unknown>)?.member_ids)
+        ? (request.body as Record<string, unknown>).member_ids as string[]
+        : Array.isArray(request.body?.memberIds) ? request.body.memberIds : []
       if (!name?.trim()) return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'Name required' })
+      if (memberIds.length === 0) return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'At least one member required' })
 
       const userId = request.user.sub
       const allMembers = [...new Set([userId, ...memberIds])]
diff --git a/src/components/chat/ChatWidget.tsx b/src/components/chat/ChatWidget.tsx
index d23fad6..1cb4791 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/ChatWidget.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/ChatWidget.tsx
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function renderWithMentions(text: string, myName?: string) {
       const mentioned = part.slice(1).toLowerCase()
       const isMe = myFirst && mentioned.startsWith(myFirst)
       return (
-        <span key={i} className={cn('font-semibold', isMe ? 'bg-yellow-300/20 text-yellow-200 rounded px-0.5' : 'opacity-90')}>
+        <span key={i} className={cn('font-semibold rounded px-0.5', isMe ? 'bg-amber-100 text-amber-700 dark:bg-yellow-300/20 dark:text-yellow-300' : 'text-brand-600 dark:text-brand-300')}>
           {part}
         </span>
       )