The sticker shock of mandatory resort fees at hotels is just as irksome to travelers as airlines’ ‘hidden’ fees, according to the latest survey.
The survey, commissioned by non profit advocacy group Travelers United, found 80% of guests want resort fees included up front in order to compare prices properly.
The poll found 87% would be less likely to stay at a hotel that charged a resort fee for services they would not use.
The practice of charging mandatory resort fees is widespread and are levied for services such as use of a swimming pool, a fitness center and Wi-Fi.
"When they advertise the room, if it’s mandatory, if there’s no way you can wiggle out of it, you have no choice, it’s not an option, it must be included in the room rate, otherwise it’s misleading and deceptive," says Charlie Leocha, chairman of Travelers United.
At least one lawsuit is ongoing over the non disclosure of resort fees.
The Federal Trade Commission has acknowledged that many hotels and resorts do not display the fees or hide them in vague disclaimers at the time of booking.
FTC chairwoman Edith Ramirez said the agency’s work so far has seen travel companies improve their pricing displays to prominently disclose the fees in the booking process but ‘drip pricing’ still continues.
"I can assure you that we will continue to monitor the online travel marketplace as part of our ongoing consumer protection mission."
Leocha says Travelers United will continue to take the fight to hotel companies lobbying for any resort fees to be displayed alongside the basic price in search results, not just on the final page when it is time to pay.
The Travelers United survey polled 1,100 adults nationwide during August.
