A look at some hotel industry trends, after-the-jump ….
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Although I am not a frequent traveler, there are four trends involving hotel stays that I have noticed over the past few years worth mentioning.
During the State of the Union address, Joe Biden spoke of “junk fees”. Among these are hotel “resort fees” or more commonly “destination fees”. This is where a hotel lists its room rates … only for you to learn there are additional fees that are – if you’re lucky – only revealed later on (at the stage where state/local taxes are noted). In a few cases, one only learns of them … too late.
This apparently began as “resort fees” – where a luxury resort (with a lagoon or other uniquely special features) hives-out the charges for these amenities until later in the booking process … so that the base price appears lower. Now, they have spread to ordinary hotels, with few amenities.
The kicker is that they are (usually) not negotiable. If, say, the booking process asked if you want housekeeping service as an additional charge – someone with only a two-night stay might say, “I’ll pass”. Likewise, one could charge extra to use, say, their gym/spa (with a separate entrance key) or to have a coffee-maker in their room, etc.
Alas, this is not truly an a la carte situation – rather, as the Arthur Frommer Guide puts it, it’s a shell game. And it shortchanges the state/local tax authorities (as the tax rate is different). As much as one might not care (as their taxes are rather high), taxes apply across-the-board, not at the whim/profit of one particular chain.
In making some upcoming plans, I saw one hotel that (in an unusually straightforward manner) listed it as part of their base rate (“includes $20 destination fee”), yet unfortunately another that - after inquiring about a room – lists a “final rate including taxes and fees” (which you have to click in order to see what “fees” there are). Worse yet: one hotel that did not mention the ($40) fee until the very last screen before “Book this room”.
Travel advocate (and syndicated newspaper columnist) Christopher Elliott wrote that a Los Angeles area hotel had a fee it said travelers would actually … love:
For $30 a night, it includes two single-ride Metro passes per stay, a daily drop-off service via rideshare service within a 2-mile radius of the hotel, access to a yoga studio, "free" electric vehicle charging and "complimentary" domestic phone calls.
If the nightly resort fee (sorry, destination fee) were optional, that might be a pretty good deal. So I checked with the hotel and was disappointed to learn that the $30 fee is mandatory. So technically, neither the phone calls nor the EV charging is "free."
Both Christopher Elliott and other guides offer some advice on trying to avoid these fees (being part of a chain’s rewards program can help).
A very different aspect of hotel rates - has been the long-time posting of maximum room rates allowable on the inside door of hotel rooms. A 2008 article in Travel Weekly estimated that half of the US states had such laws (designed to protect travelers from being gouged). To circumvent the intent of these laws, the Maximum Room Rate was always an astronomical figure, one that would never be reached even if the president was staying at that locale.
A different travel writer last year noted that some states were abolishing these laws (recognizing the absurdity of the situation). I contacted Tim Leffel, who indicated that he hadn’t kept track of which states have joined that effort (yet wrote, “I still see it quite a bit in motels, especially”). In New York and New Jersey in recent years, I’ve not seen it any longer (at least in major chains).
In another change the past few years, one may no longer see a Gideon Bible in one’s hotel room. This practice seems to date back to 1908, when the group Gideons International – started by two traveling evangelical businessmen seeking the company of like-minded individuals – began the practice of placing Bibles in hotel rooms. At its height, the group claims to have placed two billion volumes (in 95 languages) in 200 different countries.
In the last decade, I have often not seen one … with several reasons why.
Interestingly, one involves the Marriott hotel chain– which often also enclosed a Book of Mormon (reflecting the family that founded the chain) – beginning to omit them in their subsidiary brands (Moxy and Edition) that are targeting younger guests (think hipsters). They went on to allow all their franchisees to decide whether-or-not to place a Bible in hotel rooms – which increasingly has become an industry-wide practice (though maybe not so at mom-and-pop or small chains in the Bible Belt). This also seems to be aimed at Millennials.
Another reason is outside pressure. The Freedom from Religion Foundation (whom Ron Reagan Jr. does television advertisements for) in 2015 sent letters to major chains, advising them that many of their guests are non-believers, and room rates should not include a book advocating the killing of “nonbelievers, apostates, ‘stubborn sons’ and women who transgress double standards”.
Finally, it also reflects the trend away from print: with travelers relying upon their phones and laptops. The Gideons themselves have an app (enabling them to save on printing and distribution expenses) and while the Best Western chain (in its blog) once asked guests not to remove a Bible, “The Gideons say they do not consider it a sin”. (At the very least …... they won’t charge you $60.00 for it).
As an aside: I recall many Gideon Bibles had a special section featuring John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world”) translated into numerous languages. The first time I ever read of James Carville was around 1991, after he successfully managed Harris Wofford’s campaign (as a one-term Pennsylvania senator) and was set to manage Bill Clinton’s campaign (along with Paul Begala).
A magazine article said that – if anyone asked about having him manage their campaign – he would bring a New Testament and a stopwatch. He would have them read John 3:16 (average time of ten seconds) and then tell them words to the effect of, “That is the essence of Christianity in 10 seconds – now I want you to tell me why people should vote for you in that time”.
Next, as we approach Netroots Nation in three months: the Las Vegas hotel in which the first Yearly Kos was held in (the Riviera) was pulled down years ago. And this week, another venerable hotel on the Strip (the Tropicana) closed in the week of its 67th anniversary.
Business had struggled in recent years (as it had for many old-time destinations) due to the rise of mega-resorts that overwhelmed the legacy hotels.
The Tropicana will be demolished later this year to make room for a new baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s. Now, the only standing Strip resort from the Rat Pack 1950’s will be the Sahara.
Finally, a dozen years ago the subject of my Top Comments posting was an ode to my high school principal – as John Rowan (a Jesuit priest) was not only a fabulous educator but also encouraged interdisciplinary studies and had annual seminar days (where we heard guest lecturers on all sorts of human-interest topics; the Vietnam War in my freshman year, for example). In his later years, he sat on the board of housing authorities, nursing homes, sponsored end-of-life courses for caregivers and was a prime example of a life well led. (That he widely shared my politics … only was a bonus). You can read my original essay at this link.
He left the school the same year as my graduating class of 1974, and was set to be the guest of honor at our 50th reunion this coming September … only for us to learn that he died last week at the age of eighty-eight.
Now, on to Top Comments:
Highlighted by culturejammer:
In the diary by DRo about the ruling made today by judge Aileen Cannon— this comment (which was made by FiredUpInCA).
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by Dan K about indications the attorney general of Arizona may have her sights set on indicting the higher-ups behind the state’s 2020 fake electors — CreekSider notes that the RICO laws of Arizona may play a role.
Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful (and now eternal) *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment featuring that photo.
TOP PHOTOSApril 3rd, 2024
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And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
19) Agreed. … by wandering in samsara +8923) DeJoy still there? … by RASalvatore +85