Destination Fee Exempt Question
 

Hey guys, currently staying at the DC Downtown Westin for 28 nights. It is under their 14+ day long term rate, which then shows "Destination fee exempt". with the following language

• Long term stay rate This rate is based on a continuous stay. If the stay is shortened after booking, the rate will change to our best available rate for the adjusted pattern at the time the change is made.

When I checked in, the Front desk said that I would not receive the benefits for the destination fee, because I'm not paying it. I'm thinking that because this is a long term rate the benefit is that you still get the benefits of the fee, but are just exempt from paying it. If i booked less that 14 days the fee is tacked on. I called the Marriott Plat desk and they do not know. Anyone have experience on this? Thanks.

On what basis do you feel you should be getting the benefits without paying the fee?

So my thought process was that since im paying 14+ nights it was an incentive. Like as a long term guest and maybe some extra benefits. Just odd that at 13 nights you dont get the 2hr bicycles per day, but at 14 nights you now cant use them because the fee is exempt.

You only get the benefits of the destination fee IF YOU PAY IT.

I think most people would love to give up the “benefits” of a destination fee in exchange for not being forced to pay it.

Destination Fees are sometimes waived on corporate rates (and sometimes on the Amex Business Card rate), and I have personally never received the “benefits” when staying on those rates

On a 13 night stay, one would be paying an additional $390 + tax for that privilege

I think the incentive is that the long term rate is (usually) lower, and in this case you also get an annoying fee waived.

Makes sense. Didn't think it of that way. Much appreciated.

I don't remember ever getting a destination/resort/scam fee that included anything I actually wanted!

Interestingly, with Hyatt, destination fee is waived for Globalists, yet they still get the benefits. For example, at HR San Francisco Downtown, you still get a $15 f&b credit.

RIght, same with Hitlon, I had an award stay and the fees were exempt but still got the beverage/dining credit. I think I was thinking it was same here, since i was a long term stay it was an extra benefit. but yah oh well.

I find myself always utilizing the F&B credit. The already free WiFi is less useful. 😁

Sometimes higher tier elites (Titanium and Ambassador) will get extra perks like some of these fees waived, but it’s up to each individual property to decide whether to do that since it’s not a published benefit.

Never got one with a F&B credit. It's usually stuff like a ukelele lesson, lei making, surfing lesson (on land), and I forget what other stupid things they made up to justify the $50. Heck they don't even give me a welcome drink!

I'm with the OP. I believe the OP should be getting whatever Destination Fee "perks" are supposedly provided for rip-off fees (that they luckily don't have to pay).

When booking a room for 14+ days at that hotel all the rate code says is "Destination Fee Exempt" and it tells you what qualifies for that rate (14+ nights). It does NOT say "Destination Fee perks not included".

I understand the argument "you get what you pay for". Or, in this case, you don't get the perks because you don't pay for them. However, I believe the spirit of the lower fare is "hey, you're coming to stay with us for a very long time. We'll waive the fees." This is akin to "stay longer" rates where the rate is 15-20% lower than normal. You don't get 15-20% less room, do you?

-RM