Originally Posted by
ceieoc
If the extra resort fee is added at some properties, like the fee for the Hilton Hospitality surcharge, why unbundle the resort surcharge from the advertised total room rate?
The room rate that each hotel enters into the system is used to populate travel agencies and third-party websites like Expedia and Orbitz. If Hilton required their hotels to include resort fees in the room rate, those hotels would be at a competitive disadvantage over competitors who still list them as a separate line item.
The only way it would work is if all major chains decide to force their hotels to include resort fees in the room rate (effectively banning the practice). I wouldn't expect that to happen unless lawmakers get involved.
Originally Posted by
ceieoc
Why not place the resort fee surcharge disclosure on the first page with the search results and the price for the hotel room?
The above technical hurdle doesn't necessarily apply to Hilton's own website. If they wanted, the initial search results screen could include mandatory charges like resort fees. I would gleefully support that change. Nothing is more annoying than thinking you've found a great rate that suddenly jumps $20 or more due to a resort fee.
If I were a Hilton franchisee that doesn't have a resort fee in a market where other Hilton's do, I'd be fighting to require resort fees to be disclosed on the initial search screen.