Smoking charge (when no one smoked)
Oct 3, 2015, 7:25 am
#76
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Wash, DC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Delta Gold Medallion, United/Star Alliance Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 161
Generally and philosophically, I agree. However, there is a slippery slope problem here, too. At what point do "damages" become "extraordinary" and require more than "normal" housekeeping attention? And who makes these decisions? How specifically need they be spelled out to guests?
Oct 3, 2015, 7:50 am
#77
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
I smoke dope and have some in my office. ( legal in Washington) I can tell you my house does not smell of marijuana.( I smoke outside) I don't believe that a baggie of dope temporarily sitting around a hotel room would initiate a deep cleaning.
As I read a few posts up...I would be more concerned about the " few crumbs" of illegal substance found in the room.....surprised they didn't call the cops...and maybe the hotel is trying to remove all the physical traces of the spilled dope and it's less about smell.
" Smoking charge/deep cleaning" may be just a line item description for extra vacuuming to remove what is perceived as illegal drugs from their hotel room.
I'd pay it and be grateful the cops were not called despite the fact it was legally processed.
As I read a few posts up...I would be more concerned about the " few crumbs" of illegal substance found in the room.....surprised they didn't call the cops...and maybe the hotel is trying to remove all the physical traces of the spilled dope and it's less about smell.
" Smoking charge/deep cleaning" may be just a line item description for extra vacuuming to remove what is perceived as illegal drugs from their hotel room.
I'd pay it and be grateful the cops were not called despite the fact it was legally processed.
Oct 3, 2015, 9:54 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
It looks like it's an initiative called Breathe Westin. It is definitely related to actual smoking. For some reason I only found a mobile website.
https://m.starwoodhotels.com/westin/...elWell.Breathe
https://m.starwoodhotels.com/westin/...elWell.Breathe
But again, it says "smoke-free" ... no smoking = smoke-free. This is not a new program. It was started in 2006 when the idea of a hotel with non-smoking rooms only was not the same reality that we live in today. Assuming OP is telling the truth, nothing he described violates this policy.
Oct 3, 2015, 10:10 am
#79
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
So pets smoke? There's also a cleaning fee assessed at Westins for pets.
Maybe I should start bringing Epoisses cheese (banned on public transport in France) to SPG properties and stink up my room with that. Then I can argue that I didn't smoke the cheese so I shouldn't have to pay a deep cleaning fee.
Maybe I should start bringing Epoisses cheese (banned on public transport in France) to SPG properties and stink up my room with that. Then I can argue that I didn't smoke the cheese so I shouldn't have to pay a deep cleaning fee.
If you are assessed a cleaning fee because of a pet AND you did NOT have a pet in the room (perhaps your wife is extra hairy, perhaps she had a fur coat), then the situations would be similar.
Oct 3, 2015, 10:17 am
#80
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
Ashes. Roach. Burn marks. Smoke smell. There is a big difference between the odor of marijuana in a bag and marijuana that has been smoked. Equate this to being charged a cleaning fee because the cleaning personnel found an open pack of cigarettes in the room and no evidence/smell of cigarette smoke. It would seem like a lot of people in this thread have NEVER been around or smelled marijuana. The people invoking imagery from walking in California and smelling marijuana are smelling something burning... not the same situation.
Oct 3, 2015, 12:12 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,737
http://westinwellbeing.starwoodpromo...reathe-westin/
But again, it says "smoke-free" ... no smoking = smoke-free. This is not a new program. It was started in 2006 when the idea of a hotel with non-smoking rooms only was not the same reality that we live in today. Assuming OP is telling the truth, nothing he described violates this policy.
But again, it says "smoke-free" ... no smoking = smoke-free. This is not a new program. It was started in 2006 when the idea of a hotel with non-smoking rooms only was not the same reality that we live in today. Assuming OP is telling the truth, nothing he described violates this policy.
Oct 7, 2015, 10:28 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minnesnowta
Posts: 10
I would do a chargeback AND a terrible review on TripAdvisor.
Oct 8, 2015, 1:27 am
#83
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
I am a longtime SPG customer, who has a companion who is terminally ill. I am a SPG Lifetime Gold, and yearly still stay over 50-60/nts without a problem.
I recently stayed at a SPG property in a medical marijuana state. My companion who stayed with me brought their medicine in to the hotel room. And like all of her stays, she only prepared her medicine in the room - but would never consume it in the room.
The problem: hotel has charged us a smoking fee because they were able to locate a few crumbs of marijuana, and because the room supposedly had smelled of marijuana.
While my companion doesn't suffer from tremors too terribly, as of late they have become more of a problem. I am fairly certain that her tremors left those crumbs they found.
The hotel has refused to credit the folio, and has encouraged us to dispute this with a credit card company.
1) Does this seem right?
2) Can you still be charged a smoking fee, even if you did not smoke?
3) Are you allowed to store medicine in hotel rooms in Starwood properties? Or are certain medicines not permitted?
4) Have smoking fees become an ambiguous fee for a room that requires extra cleaning? E.G. - Pretend I work at a fish processing plant or fish restaurant, and I come back to my Starwood hotel and unfortunately leave a lingering smell, would I then be charged for "smoking"?
5) If you were a tobacco smoker who left a broken cigarette and some tobacco leaves in the room (which house keeping cleaned up); but never smoked in the room; would you then be charged for smoking?
6) If I took a laxative to help me with a medical issue, and left the hotel room with a lingering smell. Would I be charged a $200 fee for smoking, so that the room gets a "thorough cleaning?"
We're being charged by Starwood for storing medicine in a room. We use the privacy of our room to prepare the medicine for use in appropriate locations. We literally do everything we can to try and obey the rules, but it isn't enough. We buy a hotel night for privacy and for comfort. Now I feel I can't even rely on Starwood for privacy, or for them to respect medical treatments.
What would you do? Would you just dispute this with your credit card company?
I recently stayed at a SPG property in a medical marijuana state. My companion who stayed with me brought their medicine in to the hotel room. And like all of her stays, she only prepared her medicine in the room - but would never consume it in the room.
The problem: hotel has charged us a smoking fee because they were able to locate a few crumbs of marijuana, and because the room supposedly had smelled of marijuana.
While my companion doesn't suffer from tremors too terribly, as of late they have become more of a problem. I am fairly certain that her tremors left those crumbs they found.
The hotel has refused to credit the folio, and has encouraged us to dispute this with a credit card company.
1) Does this seem right?
2) Can you still be charged a smoking fee, even if you did not smoke?
3) Are you allowed to store medicine in hotel rooms in Starwood properties? Or are certain medicines not permitted?
4) Have smoking fees become an ambiguous fee for a room that requires extra cleaning? E.G. - Pretend I work at a fish processing plant or fish restaurant, and I come back to my Starwood hotel and unfortunately leave a lingering smell, would I then be charged for "smoking"?
5) If you were a tobacco smoker who left a broken cigarette and some tobacco leaves in the room (which house keeping cleaned up); but never smoked in the room; would you then be charged for smoking?
6) If I took a laxative to help me with a medical issue, and left the hotel room with a lingering smell. Would I be charged a $200 fee for smoking, so that the room gets a "thorough cleaning?"
We're being charged by Starwood for storing medicine in a room. We use the privacy of our room to prepare the medicine for use in appropriate locations. We literally do everything we can to try and obey the rules, but it isn't enough. We buy a hotel night for privacy and for comfort. Now I feel I can't even rely on Starwood for privacy, or for them to respect medical treatments.
What would you do? Would you just dispute this with your credit card company?
Oct 11, 2015, 12:14 am
#84
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
I have found that well-tipped maids are very forgiving, and often leave extra items, e.g. towels and amenities, and sometimes heartfelt notes.
Oct 11, 2015, 1:48 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: IHG Spire, Marriott
Posts: 574
Very true, whenever I messed up the room (usually spilling on carpet/bed), I always leave a tip in the morning and a cleaning charge has never showed up on my bill.
Oct 11, 2015, 4:50 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Mosaic
Posts: 1,050
In this case, I bet the deep clean was even more necessary for the hotel to be in the clear, legally speaking.
Last edited by pWei; Oct 11, 2015 at 4:56 am