I just finished a two week stay at the W Montreal. It was great, I really like the W product. I was a really taken aback however when I got into a cab to the airport. I looked back out the rear window as the driver and the bellhop were closing the trunk, and I clearly saw a $5 bill change hands. My SO noticed this as well when he flew home earlier that week after visiting me, but in his case it was much more blatant.

I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).

Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...