Just checked out of a Marriott property. Before departing I looked at my folio (emailed to me overnight) and notice a line for “Charitable Contribution” (and $1 charge).

I did not authorize this nor is there any explanation of what this “Charitable Contribution” is for. Yes it’s “only” a dollar, but it was not something I approved (it’s the principle!) PLUS my work expense report folks are going to ask questions about why I’m charging “charitable contributions” to my corporate credit card, no matter how small the amount.

In the lobby I speak with a front desk agent. He informs me that “it’s a thing they stated doing recently” and it’s “for kids or something” and — most importantly to me — “they automatically charge every room.” This fee (because let’s be real - an “automatic charitable contribution” is a fee) was not disclosed when booking nor checking in, nor was I asked if I wanted to opt-in (or out).

I believe deeply in philanthropy, but I have big … concerns … about a corporation putting non-disclosed “charitable contributions” charges on every guest’s folio without their prior knowledge. (Also troubling but more of an aside: front desk agent could not elaborate or explain what where this charitable contribution actually went.)

How many people don’t pay close attention and miss the $1 charge - and then don’t bother to contest it later?

Does anyone else find this… feels scammy… too?

This hotel is in NY — I’m guessing it also violates consumer protection laws here to do something like this?

If the hotel offered guests the opportunity to opt-in, I still wouldn’t (I like to make my own contributions directly, my work wouldn’t approve a folio with “charitable contribution” on it, and I find corporate giving practices that are really tax write-offs of passed through consumer contributions distasteful) BUT wouldn’t have an issue with it. Whatever floats your informed boat.

But automatically charging every room without disclosing if anywhere? Eek.

anyone ever experience this elsewhere before?

Please report the hotel to consumer protection authorities. Please also name the property here and consider posting on TripAdvisor or another more-visible forum.

It's probably the UNICEF program. I've never seen it actually applied to one of my folios despite being mentioned in reservation notes.

I'm assuming the hotel would remove it upon request?

Good call, ElevatorEnthusiast!

https://serve360.marriott.com/nurtur...-for-children/

The phrasing is a little weird, "voluntary" but then "an amount that may be increased or removed at the request of the guest" which suggests it's opt-out rather than opt-in. The front desk should have agreed to remove it, maybe the specific front desk employee you spoke to thinks it is a pain to remove it and hoped you'd come back later when someone else is working to deal with the hassle?

This practice goes back years. Back in the day, a lot of international SPG hotels used to do this.

Does the property offer an opportunity to increase the contribution?

Here's an email about it from November 9, 2010, well back into the SPG days. The email invites one to opt in. The problem here is that OP was being forced to opt out (without an easy opt-out mechanism at that).

When we lived in Boston we went to NYC at least 5 times/year for 25+ years.

Never seen this on any of our bills, and we stayed at SPG, then Bonvoy properties 95% of the time.

Bizarre

I feel this is a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen. No clear disclosure and automatic "opt-in"?

LAX

I have donated to UNICEF in the past. I would not opt in to this program (*). And I would be rather annoyed if they opted me in and required me to take action to remove it, *especially* on a corporate booking.

(I hate being bombarded with requests for minor donations at checkouts at grocery stores or Office Supply stores for food banks, schools, fire victims etc. etc., Especially if it is a verbal request by the cashier. )

To clarify some of the questions...

When raised/flagged with the front desk agent, he "removed" the charge..which, it turned out, was really placing a $1 credit for "Charitable Contribution" on the folio. So I now have original folio (with $1 charge) and corrected/final folio (with both $1 charge and $1 credit). Lucky me - the folio still says "CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION" as line-items on it...which will no doubt make my corporate accounting folks happy (note..this is sarcasm).

I have stayed multiple times at many properties in NYC over the years - for work and pleasure - including pre- and post- Starwood/Marriott merger (both SPG and Marriott locations). I have never encountered this before. Note this was my first time at this specific property, too, and this property was not a Starwood legacy property. (Re: UNICEF charge)

If relevant data point, I am Marriott Titanium and had booked through a corporate travel portal.

I have a note to the GM to ask for clarification about why all guests were automatically "opted in" (without any notice - in writing, in the booking/reservation details, in a pre-arrival email, with signage in the lobby, during check-in, etc) to a "charitable contribution." Depending on how that is responded to, I will name the property.

This is what I have sometimes seen in reservation details (under “Hotel Messages”), but I have never actually been asked (nor charged).

i have seen similar upon booking at the former le meridian san fransisco (still in the marriot family) charging 10% ! as a charitable donation to people traveling with animals. .... if you can bring fido to SF i dont need to subsidize it!

I agree with your 100%. I live in Ontario, Canada and the LCBO, the government liquor store which is the only place to buy alcohol in the province regularly shills for some charity be it Sick Kids Hospital, United Way or whatever...I can't stand being peppered every time to 'contribute' something...like can't I just buy my vodka? This is kind of the same thing...why do I need Marriott deciding for me what charity(s) I want to contribute to, and I paid to stay at a hotel not to be shaken down for your philanthropic gain...clearly my $1 goes to Marriott saying "we contributed $xmillion last year to children's charities".

It annoys me as well. What is their intended message?: We care enough about this cause to ask you to fund it but not enough for us to fund it? We care enough about this cause to take credit for your contributions?