A lawsuit by the D.C. Attorney General is shedding new light on just how much money the hotel industry makes on so-called ‘resort fees’ that are tacked on to hotel bills under various names.
Papers recently unsealed in the case, which involves Marriott, place the take in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The D.C. suit accuses Marriott of misleading customers by adding the $9 to $95 a day fees on only after the customer has agreed to a rate for the room. In some instances, the fee can double the cost of the room.
According the filings, Marriott made at least $206 million between 2012 and 2019, at least $17 million of it in 2019 alone. Originally assessed at actual resorts and claimed to cover the cost of pools and spas and the like, they have since become popular with hotels who list them as ‘amenity fees’ and the like and say they cover items such as parking, Wi-Fi and fitness room access.
The suit alleges that Marriott’s pledges on disclosure, and its stated policy on what hotels can charge for have not been followed. Although this suit involves Marriott, other major players have similar policies.
