Rise of Mandatory Hotel Fees Sparks Backlash

Key Points:

• Mandatory hotel fees, also known as junk fees, resort fees, or destination fees, are becoming increasingly common.
• These fees are added on top of the advertised room rate and often cover services that were previously included.
• Many consumers feel deceived by these fees and have been filing lawsuits against hotels.
• Legislation has also been introduced to combat these fees and make them more transparent.
• The hotel industry claims that these fees help cover the cost of amenities and services, but critics argue that they are simply a way to drive up prices.
• The rise of mandatory hotel fees has sparked a debate about transparency and fairness in the travel industry.

Hot take:

The battle against mandatory hotel fees is heating up, with consumers and lawmakers fighting back against these sneaky charges. While hotels claim that these fees help cover the cost of services, it’s evident that they are just a clever way to squeeze more money out of travelers. It’s time for the hotel industry to be more transparent and upfront about their pricing. Otherwise, they might find themselves facing more lawsuits and tighter regulations in the near future.

Original article: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/21/what-is-a-destination-fee-and-why-are-more-hotels-charging-them.html