Marriott CEO Says Resort Fees Are Like Baggage Fees – 4 Reasons Why That Isn’t True

In case you didn’t know, there is a big battle shaping up on this horrible practice of hotels of the dreaded “resort fee.” The attorney general for the District of Columbia has filed a pending lawsuit against Marriott for this practice. While many hotels have been launching resort fees on hotels that are decidedly not resorts, Marriott is certainly one of the worst offenders.

Marriott CEO Says Resort Fees Are Like Baggage Fees – 4 Reasons Why That Isn’t True

In a recent interview, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson made it clear that they will be fighting this action as he says that resort fees are here to stay. Hotels basically use these resort fees as something that will be collected at the property (even on award stays) that they say covers such things as:

• gym usage
• telephone usage for local calls/some long-distance calls
• safety/security box in the room
• internet
• property credit of some kind
• parking
• beach access
• extra facility uses
• and other things that we have always just assumed came as part of a hotel stay.

Marriott breaks these fees out from the actual paid rate for the night – even on award stays. This can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the rate. One of people’s major problems with these fees is the fact that they are separate from the rate. If they were included in the rate, it would be easier to swallow because at least we are seeing the actual amount instead of getting slammed with an additional fee at checkout.

The following also is the same for “destination fees” and “facility fees” even though the property may include a credit for the property in that fee. It is not voluntary so it isn’t the same as spending your own money at the property.

Marriott CEO Says Resort Fees Are Like Baggage Fees

So, Marriott’s CEO took the position that the resort fees are like baggage fees in the airline industry and actually said “none of as consumers necessarily love it.” No, really??? A side note – how often is the Marriott CEO a consumer when he chooses a hotel property to stay in?

Here are 4 reasons this is not true.

With Airline Baggage Fees, We Can Choose Carry-On Only

Airlines charge baggage fees when we check a bag. As airline passengers, we can choose to not check that bag at all. In fact, in most of my flights, I never check a bag for my stuff. I always fly with just a carryon.

This is especially important on short trips. On short trips, most people don’t need a lot of belongings so only take a carryon. However, with hotel stays on short trips, Marriott is still going to assess that resort fee/destination fee even though we may not even take advantage of anything that is included in the resort fee.

No, Resort Fees are not like Baggage Fees

With Airline Baggage Fees, We Can Get the Fee Waived with a Credit Card

With all the US airlines, you are able to waive at least the first checked bag fee on domestic flights simply by having/using an airline co-branded credit card. That is not the case with Marriott’s resort fees. Having a Marriott card does not waive resort fees – full stop.

No, Resort Fees are not like Baggage Fees

With Airline Baggage Fees, We Can Get the Fee Waived with Elite Status

If you have pretty much any level of airline status, you can get your first bag (and even more!) waived. In fact, depending on the status, you can get several bags for free!

Hyatt has made a great move for Globalist members by waiving resort fees (at the few properties that charge them) on award nights or on eligible rates. This is definitely a nice benefit for Hyatt’s top-tier elite members. Marriott does nothing like this – even though they have several levels of elite status that they could choose to offer it with.

No, Resort Fees are not like Baggage Fees

With Airline Baggage Fees, We Can Buy a Higher Cabin Fare to Add Bags

There are many times that we may be able to pay only a little more to get a fare class/fare bundle that could include free bags. For instance, on some short-haul routes, I have paid $30-50 more for a Delta first class ticket instead of economy and that included 2 checked bags! With JetBlue, you can buy a ticket in Blue Plus or Blue Flex that will, among other things, give you a free bag (or two).

This is not the case with Marriott. In fact, with a hotel property that charges the resort fee based on a percentage, you will pay even more if you book a higher grade room. Yea, not the same.

No, Resort Fees are not like Baggage Fees

Bonus!

With some airlines, you can get either miles or a voucher of some kind if your bag is not out in a certain amount of time. If the airline does not deliver your bag, you are able to get them to cover incidentals you need until your bag arrives and, in some cases, get your bag fee refunded or get a credit for the same amount.

Marriott does not give you back your resort fee if components of that fee that count as resort benefits are not working. For example, if the use of the fitness center is part of that fee and the fitness center is closed, you won’t get the fee refunded.

Yeah, Marriott, resort fees are not like baggage fees. If you took some of these examples from your counterparts in the airline industry, maybe you wouldn’t be finding yourselves getting sued over this stuff.

Or, like passengers do with Southwest, hotel customers could always just book at one of Marriott’s competitors that do not charge these ridiculous fees.