“Resort fees” at UK hotels – List of Shame!

[TGLoyalty]

NorthernLass wrote:

It is bemusing that the likes of Claridges and Cliveden are asking guests to help cover their wage bill. I feel like a £70 per night Hampton or Holiday Inn would be more likely to genuinely need their staff pay topping up!

It’s a fairer way of giving all staff members a tip rather than just the front of house staff member that was a small part of the experience.

[QwertyKnowsBest]

TGLoyalty wrote:

NorthernLass wrote:

It is bemusing that the likes of Claridges and Cliveden are asking guests to help cover their wage bill. I feel like a £70 per night Hampton or Holiday Inn would be more likely to genuinely need their staff pay topping up!

It’s a fairer way of giving all staff members a tip rather than just the front of house staff member that was a small part of the experience.

Agree provided can be confident that 100% of such charges actually reaches the staff.

[Andrew J]

A service charge isn’t a resort fee – those two things are completely different.

[The Savage Squirrel]

Andrew J wrote:

A service charge isn’t a resort fee – those two things are completely different.

Not really. They’re the same in intent – to routinely add an extra charge onto the bill that was not part of the quoted price. The difference that it’s to pay staff remuneration (thereby reducing the base wage that the hotel needs to pay to attract and retain staff) rather than go straight onto the bottom line, is, to be honest, just accountancy.

[Andrew J]

The other main difference is that a resort fee is a set fee whereas a service charge is added a percentage to the price paid.

[Rantallion]

Andrew J wrote:

The other main difference is that a resort fee is a set fee whereas a service charge is added a percentage to the price paid.

And a service fee is discretionary.

[NorthernLass]

People have had resort fees set aside by showing that they haven’t used any of the benefits supposed to be conferred (I think Rob has done this?!) But I was using it in the context that @Savage Squirrel describes. Maybe Rob or Rhys could change the title so the thread can stick to naming and shaming the relevant hotels!

[QwertyKnowsBest]

NorthernLass wrote:

People have had resort fees set aside by showing that they haven’t used any of the benefits supposed to be conferred (I think Rob has done this?!) But I was using it in the context that @Savage Squirrel describes. Maybe Rob or Rhys could change the title so the thread can stick to naming and shaming the relevant hotels!

In the USA I have for several years always questioned or disputed the resort fee at check in, usually with limited or no success. Had a surprise win in NYC recently when insisted on speaking to the duty manager to explain that the 2 ‘benefits’ offered with the resort fee (free incoming faxes and local calls) I would not use. He gave up defending when I said that I last received an incoming fax circa year 2000 and since using mobiles who uses hotel room phones for external calls.

Always worth questioning at check in, if only so front desk staff feedback the dissatisfaction.

[TGLoyalty]

QwertyKnowsBest wrote:

TGLoyalty wrote:

NorthernLass wrote:

It is bemusing that the likes of Claridges and Cliveden are asking guests to help cover their wage bill. I feel like a £70 per night Hampton or Holiday Inn would be more likely to genuinely need their staff pay topping up!

It’s a fairer way of giving all staff members a tip rather than just the front of house staff member that was a small part of the experience.

Agree provided can be confident that 100% of such charges actually reaches the staff.

If it doesn’t they are committing tax fraud as VAT must be charged and passed on and from what I have seen and heard it is not subject to VAT on invoices etc.

Problem is you’re all viewing it the way the USA treat it and NOT how U.K. and European tax or employment laws treat it.

[Aston100]

QwertyKnowsBest wrote:

NorthernLass wrote:

People have had resort fees set aside by showing that they haven’t used any of the benefits supposed to be conferred (I think Rob has done this?!) But I was using it in the context that @Savage Squirrel describes. Maybe Rob or Rhys could change the title so the thread can stick to naming and shaming the relevant hotels!

In the USA I have for several years always questioned or disputed the resort fee at check in, usually with limited or no success. Had a surprise win in NYC recently when insisted on speaking to the duty manager to explain that the 2 ‘benefits’ offered with the resort fee (free incoming faxes and local calls) I would not use. He gave up defending when I said that I last received an incoming fax circa year 2000 and since using mobiles who uses hotel room phones for external calls.

Always worth questioning at check in, if only so front desk staff feedback the dissatisfaction.

In the days prior to arrival, I had agreement from a Kimpton in NYC to remove the resort fee.
They honoured it.
Mind you, this was at the very start of 2022, so probably still a bit desperate for business due to Covid.

[meta]

@TGLoyalty You’d think that hotel owners would know about UK taxation, but many don’t care. Many are owned by foreign companies often registered outside UK. HMRC probably also does not care or it will be long before they actually do.

[Rantallion]

As long as the service charge is discretionary, no VAT is due. It doesn’t matter whether or not the charge collected is then passed on to employees.

[yorkshireRich]

Hi all, Mandarin Oriental was 5% if I recall, but please don’t quote me. I can 100% say there was definitely a service charge because the receptionist told me that it was there to help pay for the concierge/cleaners etc etc.

[rjn21]

Mallory Court, Leamington Spa. It’s a Relais & Chateaux property.
“Other hotels do it, so we do as well.” Removed on request. Declined to comment on how they treated such payments for VAT purposes (to be fair, likely not within the front desk staff’s knowledge).
Also a pool access charge unless a treatment is booked.

[George K]

Bulgari Hotel London – 5% charge removed without quibble, alongside a £40 alleged spend for the ‘welcome drinks’ which should have been free (wouldn’t be welcoming otherwise..)

[sman9]

Mr & Mrs Smith Chiltern Firehouse. They tried to charge a £60 service charge for a one night stay using my IHG free night voucher. Got it promptly removed, as the promised welcome drink didn’t arrive to the room.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

George K wrote:

Bulgari Hotel London – 5% charge removed without quibble, alongside a £40 alleged spend for the ‘welcome drinks’ which should have been free (wouldn’t be welcoming otherwise..)

Well this is what will happen if you insist on spending your children’s inheritance at the Bulgari! Was the Sheraton down the street full?!?

Otherwise thanks for the info. I live for this thread.

[George K]

Ha! I’ve been to the Sheraton a few times (last time as the beneficiary of the the grand suite intern rate), so wanted to see what the big deal was with Bulgari. Spoiler alert: not much.

[jj]

Another villain to add to the list: Marriot Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. Except they lied and told me the additional 5% charge had been applied in error for breakfast and would be refunded. When we queried it later, the truth emerged and the small print was found on Marriott’s website.

No future corporate stays are allowed at that hotel for anyone in the company. Based on my most recent stays, the Hilton and Intercontinental around the corner haven’t yet lost their moral compasses and provide excellent alternatives.

I don’t get mad. I get even.

[TGLoyalty]

What small print ? If I go to search for the hotel on the Marriott site it clearly gives the price including the service charge even on the from £xxx per night that shows the properties in the area. It’s completely transparent.

What exactly are you mad at? The website telling you how much it is per night? In any case it looks like they’ve agreed it wasn’t on your booking confirmation and removed it … I’m assuming you checked the total shown on your booking confirmation?

[smitrax]

The Ned, City of London. 5%.

[TGLoyalty]

See now that’s a sneaky one not clearly mentioning it at all when booking a room. The rate only says includes 20% VAT on the price breakdown page.

The thread title should also be updated @Rob @Rhys because these aren’t resort fees they are service charges. Completely different.