I just stayed at the Marriott Marina in San Diego. $268 a night for a business trip. The reservation was for 3 nights but I finished up my business on the 2nd day and presented myself for checkout bright and early on the third day (6:30am) and was hit with the "Extra night room and tax and energy surcharge" for early departure. I was livid, but they would not relent. They complained about losing the revenue on the room while I was listening to the girl at the next space on the counter on the phone telling someone that "we are all sold out tonight"! As a business traveller, my plans are always changing and the Marriott will no longer be an option for me. I will attempt to get American Express One, our travel booking company, to drop Marriott.
The thing that is annoying about this is that on the front end of your stay, with a gauranteed reservation, you have until 4pm to call and cancel without getting charged. Why is 6am not enough notice for a checkout?
Also, why an energy surcharge on the extra night if the room will be empty of me.
I have no doubt that in busy San Diego, that room will be booked again tonight with double revenue for the hotel. This sucks.