Resorts are known to charge resort fees for guests when they provide added amenities, such as snorkeling, stand-up paddle boards, property tours, photography, etc. and it’s become the norm to expect to pay this when staying at resort.
However, I was shocked to see a NYC midtown hotel charge a nightly resort fee facility charge of $15 per night, while searching for some hotels for a quick weekend in the city. This is the Le Parker Meridien, part of Starwood that is the hotel in question.
From the Le Parker Meridien site:
Please note that there is a mandatory daily facilities fee of 15 USD plus tax per room per night. This includes:
- Wired or Wireless High Speed Internet Access for multi-devices in guestrooms, the lobby, restaurants and the bar. *
- Unlimited use of Gravity Fitness Center.
- Unlimited use of the penthouse pool.
- Unlimited toll free and local calls from your in room phone.
* Internet access does not apply to meeting rooms or pre-function areas.
Bottom Line
I don’t know what to think of this that a hotel in midtown NYC is charging a resort fee for use of the gym, pool, internet and local calls. While I accept that resorts do tack on these hefty fees, do you feel it’s fair that a city center hotel can get away with this?
What’s your thoughts on the Le Parker Meridien charging a facility fee, even though it’s located in the middle of Manhattan? Feel free to share below!
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I tried to price out a hotel for a friend coming into LA, and I found a few hotels in Downtown LA charging resort fees as well. Disgusting!
Crowne Plaza Time Square charges $30/night fee but you can get it waived as an elite member .. scam absolutely !
Row NYC charges a resort fee too. It’s all a scam!
Wyndham New Yorker, which is about as far from being a resort as you csn get, also charges an additional fee. Caveat emptor.
These fees are money-grabs, akin to a purse-snatcher or Apple picker. When staying at a hotel which you even slightly suspect may hit you with these fees at the counter, i.e., after you’ve spent the time and money to get there, always call/email first to confirm their absence and, in the event they do confirm a resort fee, inform them that you, for that specific reason, will not be staying there and cancel your reservation right there on the phone. Get a manager if you can.
I refuse to pay any and am therefore not a customer at any hotel which charges resort fees.
Radisson in NYC charges too.
I would rate the hotel(s) in question with one or two stars at best on Tripadvisor if they engage in such disingenuous practices. They are simply attempting to deceptively advertise a lower price than their competition. If enough people rate the property negatively, then the GM or owner will likely reconsider.
I stopped staying here because of this. Used to be good for 10-15 nights a year.
Simply put, if possible, don’t stay at hotels which impose this fee…let the market kill this concept!
The Greek Peak Ski Resort in New York charges an 8% resort fee on every single thing–not just their rooms. The fee is imposed on lift tickets, food and beverage, snow tubing, the waterpark, etc. This is in addition to sales tax. I find this completely disgusting and deceptive.
We will not stay at a $$ grabbing hotel. Most would like to know their total cost in one price, not ‘oh’ there’s a resort fee, ‘oh’ there’s a towel fee, and wifi is free in the lobby but not in your room, and the list goes on.
Yet another reason to consider AirBnB or VRBO or the like.
These are the same cheapskate owners who tried to scam Starwood for millions for award nights (as extensively detailed in public court records found by G Leff). No shocker they are now scamming customers as well.