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Forums Hotel loyalty schemes IHG One Rewards InterContinental New York Times Square amenity fee

  • pilotoui 17 posts

    What is this amenity fee of $40.17 per night which is added on top of the taxes and room rate?

    Can you refuse to pay it?

    It seems that almost all hotels in New York and Chicago that i looked have it.

    NorthernLass 10,476 posts

    Amenity fees or resort fees – very contentious and discussed here quite a bit – Rob has also done a couple of articles. People have challenged them but it depends if you can be bothered. It can be easier just to make sure you use whatever’s included to try and get your money’s worth!

    K3v 29 posts

    I am stopping here in June and it was slightly cheaper to buy the points required and get a reward booking rather than paying cash. The other reason for this was that resort fees are or were waived for rewards booking, although there is a recen post on flyertalk stating that report fees had been added to a stay. It was suggested they challenge the fees though.

    Blair Waldorf Salad 1,353 posts

    Amenity fees are charged on IHG reward nights. Hilton waives them but not Marriott or IHG.

    NorthernLass 10,476 posts

    Yes, you’ll have to pay it unless you can successfully argue that you’re not using the amenities it’s supposed to cover.

    @K3v
    – let us know how you get on!

    Richard Peters 173 posts

    Stayed in The Willard Washington in January on points and no amenity fees nor taxes added with a great upgrade

    K3v 29 posts

    OK, maybe not as clear cut as I stated

    https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/intercontinental-hotels-ihg-one-rewards-intercontinental-ambassador/1686965-ihgsteve-can-we-get-final-ruling-resort-fees-reward-night-stays.html

    There is also a dedicated thread for the hotel where there are people stating they haven’t had to pay them. Suppose you wont know till there.

    Blair Waldorf Salad 1,353 posts

    As far as I recall, the ICs in New York waive the amenity fee on Virtuoso bookings.

    NorthernLass 10,476 posts

    Stayed in The Willard Washington in January on points and no amenity fees nor taxes added with a great upgrade

    I was just trying to remember if we were charged on our stay in December – I thought there was a $20 or so charge pn but as we also got an great upgrade and lots of goodies in the room I wasn’t going to quibble.

    Worth knowing about the Virtuoso rate as well.

    pilotoui 17 posts

    If I use the Ambassador free night voucher will they deduct the taxes and amenity fee for the 2nd night or just the room rate?

    NorthernLass 10,476 posts

    There shouldn’t be any actual “taxes” to pay as they are part of the room rate, but you’ll more than likely be charged the amenity fee.

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 3,074 posts

    You shouldn’t have to pay any taxes that are a % of the room rate as a % of zero is zero.

    You may still have to pay for any fixed fees relating to room occupancy (such as the Javitts Centre $3.50)

    If you do a dummy booking and look at the cost breakdown anything listed as a specific amount is likely payable anything as a % then no.

    TGLoyalty 1,226 posts

    Are you aware of the fee when you book? are you happy with the total price you are paying vs other hotels you can stay out?

    If the answer is yes then book the hotel if the answer is no then cancel or go elsewhere

    I find these threads extremely tedious – If its made clear there’s a charge then pay it of move on

    Rob
    HfP Staff
    2,701 posts

    Note that if you booked for cash on the UK website then the fee will have been included in the price shown on the search page. You have a bit more leeway on a redemption as the fee is often not disclosed. Note that at some places you get an F&B credit so it can net off. At the St Regis you could actually make a profit on it if you were smart.

    TGLoyalty 1,226 posts

    If I use the Ambassador free night voucher will they deduct the taxes and amenity fee for the 2nd night or just the room rate?

    Rate and taxes (because the rate for the 2nd night is nil) Amenity fee is technically payable but the property may waive it. Same if you add on lounge access or breakfast etc its per night regardless of the free night voucher where they are included if it was part of the room rate

    tiriavpo 339 posts

    Stayed at IC Times Square earlier this month for 3 nights. One night was on points, the other 2 were paid with one being the free weekend ambassador night. I had expected to pay an amenity fee for the reward night (from something I thought I had read in the booking confirmation). However, it was confirmed at reception that neither points bookings nor ambassador voucher bookings incur the amenity fee.

    (As in happens, I was subsequently charged 1 x amenity fee, which I queried and they admitted straight away that it was an error and refunded it – and gave me some points as an apology.)

    Shazza12 55 posts

    @tiriavpo, thank you. Stayed April 2022 and wasn’t charged and hoped that was still the case for reward night stays next month. Are you Diamond Ambassador? Wondering about the ‘free’ breakfast offering?

    tiriavpo 339 posts

    Yes, diamond. Breakfast is in The Stinger bar, menus are here: https://www.thestingernyc.com/breakfast

    You get a voucher per day which you need to take with you. Diamonds get the full monty.

    Pick the right lift as they don’t all go to all floors. Take ear plugs if you are a light sleeper (even on the 15th floor). Confirm which water is free (the ones out on the counter are not). Subway E Line goes to/from JFK and there is an entrance right outside. Smith’s Bar opposite is cheap and cheerful.

    K3v 29 posts

    Some recent chatter on Flyertalk about the resort fees being officially dropped now for reward nights.

    pilotoui 17 posts

    Anyone had a recent stay with reward nights and able to confirm if any additional taxes are payable?

    K3v 29 posts

    I stopped there a few days ago, I had two rooms on points, no resort fees.

    I then stopped at the yours truly in DC and had resort fees on points rooms there.

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