I think it is value for money which is key..... I may order a $20 club house sandwich but usually I need to order fries or salad with it, say another $5.00, but with the tray charge, taxes, and service charges, a $25 meal charge plus tray charge of roughly $5 make this a $40 meal.
Most certainly a business traveller can expense it but that does not change the fact that this is a rip-off -- someone else is still getting stiffed for it.
Interestingly, at One Aldwych Hotel in London a mini-bar 200mL Diet Coke is £2. At the Lobby Bar, itis a £1.90 plus service. The same mini-bar Diet Coke at the Dorchester and Lanesborough was over £4. There is gouging and there is fair pricing -- at least some hotels, while not cheap, charge an amount that is reasonable for the amenity they provide.
Another pet peeve is the $9.00 first minute long distance phone call charge at many NYC hotels..... simply outrageous