I agree with C3forme. “Forget dispute: class action suit!”

I also agree with pinniped who suggests, “I would dispute this one for sure. The hotel is circumventing the way many booking engines would show it by hiding it under taxes.” I did dispute my bill.

The suggestion from Often1 to, “complain both to the state AG in New Mexico as well as to the state tax authority (they will be displeased that a hotel is collecting as a tax something which is not a tax)” has great merit. I will wait to see if Hilton Worldwide corrects their web advertising regarding their irksome “hospitality surcharge.”

I believe a fee listed as a tax but is not a tax, is false and deceptive advertising. This Hilton Garden Inn adds the line item “hospitality surcharge” but advertises this fee as a mandatory tax on the Hilton Worldwide website. Before I checked out, I spent an extra 30 minutes to research and bring to the managers’ attention their billing issue. After the correction, I requested an adjusted invoice so I could pay. Due to the time burden to correct their billing, I had to rush to the airport to make my flight. The Hilton Worldwide website fails to reveal a material fact when they list a "hospitality surcharge" as a mandatory tax.

But wait, there's more. Here is an example.

If I book a new Hilton Hotel room at this property, I am offered a room rate “from $89.00.” See the screen capture #1 below:



On screen #2, you choose a rate option. I selected the $89.00 rate.



On screen #3, it says the rate is $89.00 per night. If and only if you click on the rate detail, you receive the disclosure of the extra 95 cents added to your room rate. The Hilton Hotel room rate is $89.95, not $89.00.



If Hilton Worldwide adds an extra 95 cents per room, renting a million room nights brings in an extra $950,000.00 profit. If you add on an extra $3.78 per rental room night for the “hospitality surcharge” that totals $4.73 per room night at this Hilton property. Accordingly, after renting a million stays, this adds an extra $4,730,000.00 profit. As Hilton Worldwide does not conspicuously disclose the true price you will be billed unless you click on the link “rate details” Hilton guests will never know they are paying more than the clearly and conspicuously disclosed price on the first web page. After staying at hundreds of hotels and motels over the last few decades, I expect to receive hospitality without paying a “hospitality surcharge.”

I do not feel like a welcome guest anymore when I stay at a Hilton property if I must pay a surcharge to receive Hilton hospitality. In addition to this Hilton property improperly disclosing their “Hospitality Surcharge” as a mandatory tax, please let me know if you believe the current Hilton Worldwide practice of advertising one price on their booking website then switching to a higher price when you book is an unfair, unconscionable and deceptive business practice.