What is this new junk fee? "Amenity Fee"
#46
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,682
So i spoke with the hotel this morning.
The fee is for all of the amenities that the hotel includes. This is:
1-free coffee in the room. If you run out, they will bring you more (no kidding, this was the leadoff line)
2-heated pool for use 7am-10pm
3-fitness center use 24 hours a day
4-free champagne or mimosa, but only available on weekends check ins from 3-5pm (WHHHAT?)
Seriously, I asked to speak to a manager. Got a front desk manager on the phone. Went through list. She also included a huge (HER WORDS) benefit the agent forgot. Free water bottles. They give 2 per room per day. (I did say i would just take them out of the lounge, to which she replied lounge food had to be consumed in lounge!)
Well folks, guess this means I will look elsewhere. Be honest and put it in the room rate. This is deceptive at best.
The fee is for all of the amenities that the hotel includes. This is:
1-free coffee in the room. If you run out, they will bring you more (no kidding, this was the leadoff line)
2-heated pool for use 7am-10pm
3-fitness center use 24 hours a day
4-free champagne or mimosa, but only available on weekends check ins from 3-5pm (WHHHAT?)
Seriously, I asked to speak to a manager. Got a front desk manager on the phone. Went through list. She also included a huge (HER WORDS) benefit the agent forgot. Free water bottles. They give 2 per room per day. (I did say i would just take them out of the lounge, to which she replied lounge food had to be consumed in lounge!)
Well folks, guess this means I will look elsewhere. Be honest and put it in the room rate. This is deceptive at best.
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 71
So i spoke with the hotel this morning.
The fee is for all of the amenities that the hotel includes. This is:
1-free coffee in the room. If you run out, they will bring you more (no kidding, this was the leadoff line)
2-heated pool for use 7am-10pm
3-fitness center use 24 hours a day
4-free champagne or mimosa, but only available on weekends check ins from 3-5pm (WHHHAT?)
Seriously, I asked to speak to a manager. Got a front desk manager on the phone. Went through list. She also included a huge (HER WORDS) benefit the agent forgot. Free water bottles. They give 2 per room per day. (I did say i would just take them out of the lounge, to which she replied lounge food had to be consumed in lounge!)
Well folks, guess this means I will look elsewhere. Be honest and put it in the room rate. This is deceptive at best.
The fee is for all of the amenities that the hotel includes. This is:
1-free coffee in the room. If you run out, they will bring you more (no kidding, this was the leadoff line)
2-heated pool for use 7am-10pm
3-fitness center use 24 hours a day
4-free champagne or mimosa, but only available on weekends check ins from 3-5pm (WHHHAT?)
Seriously, I asked to speak to a manager. Got a front desk manager on the phone. Went through list. She also included a huge (HER WORDS) benefit the agent forgot. Free water bottles. They give 2 per room per day. (I did say i would just take them out of the lounge, to which she replied lounge food had to be consumed in lounge!)
Well folks, guess this means I will look elsewhere. Be honest and put it in the room rate. This is deceptive at best.
#48
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,982
Regards
#50
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,891
Have stayed three times in 20 years so not a frequent guest, no corporate rate code, smiled and asked for upgrade (got a nominal one) but no anniversary etc. Not really sure why. Didnt want to ask frankly.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,682
Thats not a bad point. I know Walmart has a zero tolerance policy of expensing alcohol, for example. Marriott would probably just say to make sure you dont check in between 3-5pm
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,326
My employer won't reimburse resort fees. They seem to be viewed as a luxury that's inappropriate for business travel, yet the reality is that sometimes you must stay in a property that charges resort fees. An obvious example would be a convention in Vegas. I'm not sure what happens if the garbage fee is called a destination or facilities fee.
#53
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,617
Then the way to rationalize it would be to check whether the local hotel tax is levied on the fee as well. If not then the property is tax dodging, and I bet the AG would be interested in that.
#54
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
I'm not going to lie, but nonsense like this makes me want to book hotels where the fee is an excessive share of the overall cost via an OTA for the sake of screwing the hotel out of the intermediate commission. I'm actually there with IHG at this point.
#55
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
Even if the AG doesn't care, the DA (or equivalent) for the town might be inclined to take an interest.
#57
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MSP (Mahtomedi, MN, USA) - Delta hub captive, Marriott Gold, US Mint Silver, CVS Red
Programs: "We've been starving, and sitting on a ham sandwich the whole time."
Posts: 1,482
"Sheraton Nashville"
Probably an indoor plumbing, running water, and electricity fee.
Probably an indoor plumbing, running water, and electricity fee.
#58
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Southern Cal
Programs: UA, AA, Delta, Marriott
Posts: 113
I am afraid to ask why, so I will just accept the credit on my Marriott Bonvoy account for the five days of destination fees at a large NY hotel. I didn't say a thing to get the credit, but I will take it.
#59
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Programs: Hyatt Global, Marriot Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,282
I certainly agree with the sentiment, but the sales pitch clearly states ELIGIBLE charges [emphasis mine]. This is sort of like if I promise to give you a million dollars unless I don't, it's clearly stated and it is what it is.
Marriott promises points as a feature of staying at participating Marriott properties as a Marriott Bonvoy member. It's part of what you're paying for, along with use of the room and its features. (A lawyer might use a term such as "implied contract," but I'll just use the word "promise.")
See https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi
Marriott's sales pitch prominently states: "Check in and stay at any of our 7,000+ hotels across our extraordinary portfolio of brands including Aloft, W, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott hotels and more. Earn for more than just your room. Earn on all eligible hotel purchases, including dining, beverages, rounds of golf, spa services and more. Youll earn 10 points per US$1 spent on eligible hotel charges, except at Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels, where youll earn five points per eligible US$1."
You can consider a mandatory resort/destination fee be part of the room rate (because it's part of the mandatory daily cost of staying at the hotel), or you can consider it a "hotel purchase" (because the money is clearly going to hotel, not to a third party). In either case, Marriott is promising points. There is nothing in the Marriott Bonvoy pitch about resort/destination fees being ineligible toward calculating points.
However, buried in the fine print of the huge Terms & Conditions document, "mandatory or automatic charges (e.g., resort charges)" are "Non-Qualifying Charges," so they do not qualify for Marriott Bonvoy points.
That means Marriott's sales pitch is clearly misleading. That's unethical. I would think it's also illegal, although that might vary by country and state.
Reports here on FlyerTalk suggest that members earn points on resort/destination fees at some properties, but not at others. I assume that's based on how a charge is classified in a property's system.
Resort/destination fees are slimy to begin with. Using fine print in the T&Cs to shortchange Marriott Bonvoy members on points is even slimier.
See https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi
Marriott's sales pitch prominently states: "Check in and stay at any of our 7,000+ hotels across our extraordinary portfolio of brands including Aloft, W, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott hotels and more. Earn for more than just your room. Earn on all eligible hotel purchases, including dining, beverages, rounds of golf, spa services and more. Youll earn 10 points per US$1 spent on eligible hotel charges, except at Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels, where youll earn five points per eligible US$1."
You can consider a mandatory resort/destination fee be part of the room rate (because it's part of the mandatory daily cost of staying at the hotel), or you can consider it a "hotel purchase" (because the money is clearly going to hotel, not to a third party). In either case, Marriott is promising points. There is nothing in the Marriott Bonvoy pitch about resort/destination fees being ineligible toward calculating points.
However, buried in the fine print of the huge Terms & Conditions document, "mandatory or automatic charges (e.g., resort charges)" are "Non-Qualifying Charges," so they do not qualify for Marriott Bonvoy points.
That means Marriott's sales pitch is clearly misleading. That's unethical. I would think it's also illegal, although that might vary by country and state.
Reports here on FlyerTalk suggest that members earn points on resort/destination fees at some properties, but not at others. I assume that's based on how a charge is classified in a property's system.
Resort/destination fees are slimy to begin with. Using fine print in the T&Cs to shortchange Marriott Bonvoy members on points is even slimier.
#60
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC-BNA
Programs: Lifetime Plat/4mm miles, Starwood, HiltonHonors
Posts: 655
Ask for it to be waived. If they won't do it at the front desk, ask your CC to dispute the ENTIRE charge, including the room charges. Chances are, you'll end up paying it, three months later, but can you imagine if 5,000 people did this every day?