New parking charges
 

One of the Springhill Suites in suburban Phoenix started charging $10/night for parking. Ok, that happens, I will simply stay at other hotels instead.

The reason I think this is worth mentioning on FT is that the hotel provided this response: "The parking fee is a new policy that Marriott rolled out about 2 weeks ago for all Marriott Properties."

So I checked around and AFAIK no other Springhill Suites in greater Phoenix has recently started charging for parking. I assume the hotel's response is erroneous, but I thought I'd ask on FT in case someone has more inside information on any new charges.

Perhaps what they meant was the policy was new for that hotel group/franchisee? I think you're right that the response is incorrect.

I don't believe all the suburban Marriotts out there are going to enforce a parking fee on their wide open, multi-entrance parking lots.

I find it very hard to believe that Marriott corporate would dictate a policy requiring a charge for parking to every property, mostly run by franchisees/independent businesses. At best, there may be some requirement on how to communicate a parking fee, if it exists.

Sounds like they just wanted someone to blame.

Ahh ... those Marriott directed policies that random hotels claim required them to add charges or cut back on the lounge but don't seem to have impacted the other 6475 Marriott properties ....

Why not seek an answer from Marriott? If, as is almost certainly the case, Marriott says no such new policy, then contact the hotel again, quote whatever Marriott has said, and ask for further response? Understand it would be mostly a matter of principle, and may not be worth the effort/time to you.

This. It's just a fee grab by the property & they think they can throw Marriott under the bus. Tell them to provide you w/ the email Marriott sent to all the GMs saying charge $10 for parking ;)

Cheers.

You mean, in this lifetime? You may seek, but are most unlikely to find.

Hyperbole much? :rolleyes:

It doesn't matter.

The property charges $10 to park. If that's more than you are willing to pay, park elsewhere. Presumably if others book away, either the fee goes away or the property goes under.

Why the property does this is not worth a private investigation. Unless it makes you feel good to show up the first-tier intern who handles the email questions.

I have no idea why a Springhill Suites would charge parking fees. The biggest reason you see out of control valet-only parking fees (like $40-60 in mid-tier cities where you can self-park overnight for $5) is to get around policy limits on hotel rates. Policy limit $250 for that metro? No problem, we price at $249 and then add $50 valet parking. Since ground transportation is a different spend bucket, everything is a copacetic.

It makes no sense for a Springhill Suites because those hotels would almost be universally under any major corporation's policy limit anyways. All it is going to do is piss off customers - and for $10 of fee revenue that's just not worth it. Especially for customers who have to split parking expenses from hotel stay expenses. I'd avoid that hotel just for that reason - not worth the T&E admin overhead...

You have no idea? Think hard... GREED maybe?

And I have quit staying at several Marriott properties who decided this was a good way to grab revenue (Yes Orlando properties I am looking at you LOL)

Of course it's greed (in other words, the normal human desire to make more money to improve one's lot in life, but I guess "greed" is a more fun way to say that). My point is that I don't see how this particular approach is going to be successful at achieving that intended goal. It won't be effective at extracting incremental money from travelers who regularly stay at a Springhill Suites.

And don't forget about lowballing their room rate so they show higher on the search results. Just like they get when resort fees are below the line additions to room charges. This continuous nickle and dime attack gets frustrating and will push me away from such properties. Just waiting for the day the FTC steps in and demands bottom-line numbers be used in rate searches.

Parking will always be an ancillary service since it is not mandatory and so shouldn't be included in the price, although I could see corporate travel departments pushing to require the big chains to start disclosing parking fees and configure, e.g., Concur, to include that cost in the hotel depending on travel configuration (e.g., if the trip also includes a car rental).

Let's be clear.. a suburban Phoenix Springhill Suites is basically for business travelers. Rates plummet over the weekend and I expect occupancy does as well. Business travelers - outside of policy exception - aren't as price sensitive so appearing lower in the list doesn't matter (and parking charges may add T&E admin overhead). The exception here is if they are a sole proprietor, etc, in which case they do care about cost and would be mad that they were hoodwinked about parking expenses.

In other words, I just don't see how this is going to be super effective at extracting material incremental revenue - at least other than a short term bump before it becomes known for frequent travelers in the area.

To suddenly start charging for something that has been no-cost for decades is distasteful to the customers. Regardless how many may actually use the "service". There are many that prefer taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Imagine if they started assessing a fee every time you push that button (or insert your room key). How about using the front door vs the rear door? Yes, the list can get out of hand quickly, but the point is the same. Most of us accept, and expect, the room rate covers much more than just the cost of providing a room. To now start charging extra for that which we feel we've been paying for all along is just plain greed and not disclosing that up front is deceptive. The properties must consider if that addition fee is worth the loss of future business, but I suspect many are very short-sighted.