hotscot

I find it really weird that Diamond's don't have resort fees waived.

USA today? (Which I never read.)
WiFi? Pool? Gym? What the hell? Often they don't even have coffee/tea in the room!

I just turned down a Hilton in Las Vegas and will instead go to a Hampton.
Is that what they want?

smmrfld

Why is this unexpected for you? Waiving of resort fees isn't a Diamond benefit yet some properties will do so (at least for Lifetime Diamond) IME.

hotscot

It's not unexpected.
I'm simply bemused.
Many of the 'benefits' are included with Diamond anyway, No?

craigthemif

Resort fees are just a lame excuse to make the room rate look lower on comparison websites. The "benefits" are irrelevant. It's just room rate by another name...

Just be happy that Hilton Honors members do NOT pay resort fees when redeeming points.

hotelboy

…Yet.

wayupintheksy

Hilton waives resort fees if you book using points, regardless of your status.

hotelboy

…for now.

craigthemif

I doubt it. Resort fees go to the owner of the hotel. Right now, Hilton corporate gets to keep the extra points charged (a reduction in balance sheet liability) with no money going to the hotel.

But I would be very curious to see how they could spin an announcement saying "in an enhancement due to customer demand, members must now pay resort fees on award stays"

pazza2000

Interesting, I’ve never visited a property that can distinguish between Lifetime and regular Diamond.

ChinaShrek

Actually one way to differentiate Diamonds from other Hilton elites would be to waive resort fees for them, but make all other pay even on Award stays. This could create loyalty and revenue!

bitterproffit

I look at resort fees as part of the total cost, same way I look at parking if I have a car.

If Hotel A is $100 a night plus $20 to park and $10 fee, then its $130 a night.
If Hotel B is $120 a night with free parking and no fee, then its $10 cheaper.

If I am indifferent to the property and chain and the location and amenities are the same, I would choose B.

If Hotel A is Beachfront and Hotel B is 10 miles inland, well, that changes the discussion.

I don't like resort fees, but, at the end of the day, I just look at them as part of the total cost for comparison.

Cymro

That's fair, but if I take a train or an Uber, I can stay at the hotel without paying to park. Likewise, maybe there is a public lot around the corner, and I don't have to pay the hotel anything.

If I use my cellphone as a hotspot, or get it for free due to status, I still have to pay for WiFi that's baked into the resort fee.

Moreover, if I want to compare using Kayak or whatever, do I have to compare multiple hotels and their resort fees, or can I just go ahead and book? I literally have no problem if Hotel A wants to charge $300 and Hotel B wants to charge $100 for essentially the same service - I'm just happy that Hotel A is so much more popular, had a big group booking, etc. I do have a problem if Hotel A wants to appear cheaper, not just than it really is, but also cheaper than its competitors. That's predatory pricing that makes it harder to be a rational, capitalistic actor.

:D!

They could do similar to what IHG did and only waive resort fees for people who have 30 stays / 60 nights in the previous year...

Credit card diamonds get some sort of rebates from the card anyway