Reply To: Hilton Birmingham Metropole charging for pool

[Froggee]

I love how @JDB almost always takes the contrarian point of view.

They sell memberships for the pool/gym so can you really pretend that they care about the overall experience for hotel guests? Maybe they should charge for those who check in at reception rather than online? Perhaps a supplement for those who leave their bedrooms messy as it isn’t fair on other guests to have to subsidise them.

Never charge for something that was once free unless you want to alienate your customers.

I’d write to the manager saying how much I’ve enjoyed my prior stays but I am seriously questioning if I want to come back. When a hotel starts nickel-and-diming on stuff like this you can safely assume that they will be cutting back on other things also. Be very nice and emphasise your disappointment. £20 for a family swim is not an unreasonable price but quite simply you are staying as a guest at the hotel and this makes you feel like a revenue optimisation challenge, rather than a guest.

I’d expect you’ll get an invitation to use the pool free of charge next time you’re in town.

Right, I’m off to my hotel based swimming facility.