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Once unlikely hotel fees becoming common
Hotel fees emerged as an industry practice in the late 1990s but who would have thought that they would approach almost US$2 billion this year? Or that guests would be charged for simply plugging in an electric razor or hair dryers?
College professor and noted tourism authority Bjorn Hanson says hotel guests can only expect more. He told meetingfocus.com:
"Occupancy has been 60 percent, so the industry has been reluctant to add a lot more fees this year, but they have launched some, and next year as occupancy increases we'll likely see more new fees introduced, and at higher amounts."
Some of these fees surprise even seasoned meeting planners, who struggle with finding the best ways to deal with them, says meetingfocus.
The electricity plug-in fee is just one of many new charges that planners are encountering. "I now have to budget for the maid service, the bellman, a reset room fee, things I never saw before," said Maha Hermes, manager, medical conferences and events for Questcor Pharmaceuticals in Hayward, Calif.
Fees are of particular concern to meeting planners who see new charges for:
- Bartenders
- Service and other staff at events
- Fees for master folio billing
- Baggage holding fees for guest leaving luggage with hotel staffs after checking out
- Charges for set up and breakdown of meeting rooms
The later used to be generally free, say hospitality observers.
By David Wilkening
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