Hotel Fees Under A Legal Microscope

September 13, 2019

Stay in the know with exclusive industry news, click here and subscribe to our eNewsletter today!

As members of the events industry continue to discuss what motivates attendees to book inside a hotel room block, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine has been focusing a different aspect of the hospitality industry: fees. On July 9, Racine filed a lawsuit against Marriott that alleges the hotelier “has used an unlawful trade practice called ‘drip pricing’” for the past decade that has “misled [consumers] into believing a Marriott hotel room is cheaper than it actually is.” The lawsuit centers on resort fees, destination fees, and amenity fees — and while they may go by different names, they add up to the same thing: a higher bill at check-out. Marriott might be named in the suit, but the fees can be found on check-out folios at every major brand and boutique properties as well.

Resort fees in places like Las Vegas have been common for years, but Michael Howe, executive vice president of housing provider onPeak, told Convene that he has noticed an increase in the number of properties charging the fees in urban business centers including New York and Chicago. Leisure guests and solo business travelers may have no other option than to pay them, but it’s a different story with group business, Howe said, where planners have more negotiating power.

Read full article

Back To Top