There's a long thread in the Hilton forum that now affects most hotel chains.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001517.html

I am posting this topic here because I feel everybody needs to know that when checking into a hotel that surprises you with this charge, you should simply refuse to pay it on the basis that you were not advised in advance (if that's the case, and it usually is).

I hope this post helps you all to be more informed that you don't have to be taken advantage of by these hotels.

It's just too bad that these hotel chains are "gouging" us with charges for toll free calls, energy, etc., etc.

If the "energy" surcharge was just a California "thing", I may understand, but now that were seeing it just about everywhere, it is clear that it's just another way for the local property to make a buck.

Bottom line to the hotels: If you want to assess an energy surcharge, build that charge into your quoted rate, we will then decide if your upfront quoted rate is fair by booking the reservation!


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Went to a Hilton yesterday for a wedding banquet.

Although we did not stay there, I noticed the big sign at the front desk assessing a $3.50/day "energy surcharge" (Maryland).

I was just waiting for mgmt. to come around asking each guest for $3.50 ea. so we could assist them in paying for the lights, kitchen, dj power, etc.

Think about it, we all get reservation quotes before we come to that particular property. If the quote is too high or if there's too many taxes or surcharges, it's quite simple, we stay elsewhere.

It is just not right to surprise guests upon check-in with these energy surcharges...

I have had the front desk waive these ridiculous surcharges 100% of the time by simply showing them my itemized confirmation slip that does not show an energy surcharge.

[This message has been edited by chix (edited 05-20-2001).]

sorry, dup..

[This message has been edited by chix (edited 05-20-2001).]

Any hotel co. lurkers out there that can provide us with company memo's stating "how to increase profitablity with hotel energy surcharges"!

In Washington and Oregon:

Hilton, Red Lion and Hampton Inn properties have no energy charges. However, Doubletree (also part of the Hilton family) have a $3.00 daily charge. This makes no sense; especially when the hotels are less than a mile apart!

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Was at the Sea Tac Doubletree last week and there was a sign at the front desk advising of a $3.00 energy surcharge. However, the surcharge was not on the bill the next morning. Travel feels like Russian roulette at times.

I had contracts on my desk to reserve 110 rooms at the San Diego Hilton for our Fall conference...until a Hampton in Chicago tried to charge me a $3 energy surtax.

Our conference is now being held at La Costa. Sadly, although I told Hilton why I was not going to use them, I never received a response.

While you're at it, why not avoid the airlines that are tacking on that $10 "fuel surcharge"?

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He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.

What airlines tack on a fuel surcharge?Please tell me you are joking!

Ten dollars? Actually it was more like $40 on the last tkt that I purchased!

What a joke. There's no energy "crisis" anywhere close to Chicago. In fact ComEd is sitting pretty right now with all its nuclear plants. On the consumer side, I believe electric rates will be going DOWN in this area in a few months in preparation for deregulation in Illinois.

The way to beat this seems to be to complain about it as vehemently as possible whenever it comes up. It seems most of the poeple who dispute it get it removed. Even if the charge sticks, the more people complain about it, the more hotels will be forced to drop it.

What a joke. There's no energy "crisis" anywhere close to Chicago. In fact ComEd is sitting pretty right now with all its nuclear plants. On the consumer side, I believe electric rates will be going DOWN in this area in a few months in preparation for deregulation in Illinois.

The way to beat this seems to be to complain about it as vehemently as possible whenever it comes up. It seems most of the poeple who dispute it get it removed. Even if the charge sticks, the more people complain about it, the more hotels will be forced to drop it.

For me, it depends on who's paying the bill in the end. If it's my company, I won't fuss.

But if it's me, I'll ......

Kind of funny how you don't mind spending other people's money, huh?

For me personally I fight it anyway just b/c I feel that the hotels are trying to get one more gouge into my back after the 10 cents a minute after 30 minutes, the 1.50 coke, the 3.00 minibar coke, the 12.00 cold breakfast and so on and so on.

Plus I would rather my company keep its money (surcharge profits) rather than give it to the hotel anyway. I benefit more from my company's bottom line than I do the Hiltons, Marriotts, starwoods etc

Trojanhorse... I agree with you totally.

I treat my company's expenses the same way I treat mine.

I am just as concerned about wasting my client's money as I am my own. IMHO, principle does not depend on the pocket in which it resides.

As I have already posted within the related Hilton thread, I strongly resent the energy surcharge not only because it is often not disclosed at the time I make my reservation but because it constitutes yet another attempt to gauge and nickel and dime the traveler. I have successfully disputed this charge at each of my hotel stays in the NYC area during the last few weeks but I deeply dislike the fact the Hilton has opted to force me to do battle during check out. Life on the road is often difficult enough without this nonsense.

Reports of hotel properties leveraging energy surcharges in Oregon are especially ludicrous. My most recent electric bill to PGE was about as low as its ever been.