Following Labor Day Strikes, UNITE HERE Launches “Resort Fee Ripoff” Website

Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Omni are charging resort fees that boost their profits and leave guests with the bill. Hotel workers are fighting the “Resort Fee Ripoff” to demand that companies respect our guests.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following widespread Labor Day strikes that saw over 10,000 UNITE HERE members walk off their jobs, the hotel workers union has launched a new website highlighting concerns over the high cost of resort fees. While workers took to the picket lines across nine cities calling for higher wages, fair staffing, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts, the union also distributed leaflets to guests about the “Resort Fee Ripoff” at their hotel.

Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Omni face customer complaints, press scrutiny, and legal actions as a result of their resort fee policies. And UNITE HERE knows customers are sick of paying a fee for basic hotel services or for amenities they didn’t want in the first place.

"While hotel workers are struggling for higher wages and fair workloads, rising fees and hotel service cuts are hurting guests too," said Gwen Mills, President of UNITE HERE. “The future direction of the American hotel industry, and the standards that guests have come to expect, are on the line.”

At UNITE HERE’s new website www.ResortFeeRipoff.org, visitors can find out how:

• Some resort fees make customers pay for basic amenities including: bottled water, in-room coffee & tea, Internet, photocopies, and gym access.
• Resort fees may charge for additional amenities whether customers want them or not, including: landline calls, notary service, souvenirs, rollaway bed delivery, DVD usage, and a digital copy of the hotel’s history.
• Customers often still face extra charges beyond resort fees for popular services like: parking, breakfast, late checkout, and pet fees.

The “Resort Fee Ripoff” website shines a light on these unpopular and unfair resort fees—and suggests actions that concerned travelers can take.

For example, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Omni tell customers that resort fee charges are mandatory. But federal regulators have said it’s unfair for businesses, including hotels, to “coerce consumers into purchasing unwanted goods or services.” And hotels may have discretion to remove “mandatory” resort fees upon request.

Hotel workers are demanding that Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Omni respect our guests!

Visit www.ResortFeeRipoff.org to find out more.