Originally Posted by
lsquare
I don't remember having to ever pay a tax on an award stay before. I'm currently back in Kuala Lumpur and at the hotel, they're insisted that I pay the tourism tax. I thought that was only applicable on the cash rate. What is Marriott's position on this?
Originally Posted by
DaveMidknight
The tourism tax is like a city tax. It has nothing to do with your stay and goes directly to the city or country you are staying. They are always on top and paid at the hotel, even when you have a prepaid rate.
The Malaysian one is a bit unique because it is only for non-Malaysian nationals, i.e. if you have MyKad card (Malaysian social security card), you don't have to pay. However, now in Germany (at least in both Hamburg and Bremen), the city tax used to only for leisure tourists (if you are on business you don't have to pay) but they have removed that exemption from Jan 1 2024. Now everyone has to pay - Marriott should really put this in to the rate because it is the same as the US city tax which also not going into hotels' pockets.