Mandatory hotel fees -- for amenities like the use of a hotel pool, breakfast, towel services, Wi-Fi, newspapers or housekeeping -- are getting more attention from the U.S. government.
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez wrote to 10 U.S. Representatives last week, calling on them to draft legislation to address the "deceptive and unfair trade practice."
"Resort fees" do not appear in a hotel's advertised fare, and sometimes are not even disclosed to a customer until checkout.
Pre paid for a hotel to sleep in for a few hours last night, got here and they tried to charge me $50 in resort fees. They felt the wrath...— Molly (@molly_mfc) December 20, 2015
A report out of NYU found that U.S. hotels collected $2.35 billion in fees and surcharges in 2014, and the number was expected to rise to $2.47 billion in 2015. According to a survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, 7% of hotels charged resort fees in 2014, up from 3% the year before.
Specifically when you're trying to plan an NYC trip. Those damn "resort fees" will get you every damn time.— Mella (@Heyy_itsMella) January 8, 2016
las vegas resort fees are the devil.— JMillion (@JMillionNYC) December 24, 2015
The battle over resort fees has been waging for years. In 2012, the FTC warned 22 hotels around the country that their hidden fees "may violate the law."
Last year, Democratic senators wrote to the FTC, asking for a more aggressive policy on resort fees.
"The most efficient and effective means to mandate the type of industry-wide requirement you propose would be through legislation,” Ramirez wrote back.