Let’s face it: travel isn’t cheap.
Room at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Although you can do your best to find the best rates on everything from hotels to airfare to transportation, sometimes you still end up paying more because of fees you don’t see up front when you book travel. Hotels are notorious for this, which is why one hotel recently got sued by the state of Nebraska. Now, that lawsuit has been settled, which will end these hotel scam charges for good.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, the Nebraska Attorney General’s office recently announced that it had reached a settlement with Hilton Hotels after four years over a pricing practice called “drip pricing.” This is basically when hotels gradually add additional mandatory fees to the booking price as you go through the booking process rather than giving the full price upfront.
©Hilton
Hilton has agreed to “clearly and conspicuously” show ALL mandatory fees now as part of the total price for any offers or ads for hotel rooms. The hotel chain is also required to show amenities that are covered by mandatory fees, as well as pay $300,000 in attorney fees to the Nebraska Attorney General.
©Hilton via D23
Hilton released a statement saying, “We know consumers prioritize transparency and Hilton has long been supportive of ensuring that mandatory fees charged by hotels in our system are fully disclosed before booking on our websites and all other distribution channels.”
This is the fourth such lawsuit from the Nebraska Attorney General’s office with hotels. Previously, Omni, Marriott, and Choice Hotels reached similar settlements with the office. Each company can no longer misrepresent total price for booking rooms nor can it gradually add additional mandatory fees as customers go through the booking process.
The Swan and Dolphin are Marriott-owned hotels.
This settlement could also encourage other hotels who are engaging in these kind of pricing practices to change their ways, lest they, too, get faced with a lawsuit. This is certainly good news for travelers, especially those who are just looking at hotel prices for budgeting before actually booking rooms. It’s always a good idea to know the full price you’ll pay upfront, right?
We’ll keep an eye out for more travel-related news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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Now they need to address “resort fees”. That’s one reason I stay in-world at Dusney – no hidden fees.
Gigi, can you give me examples of some of these hidden fees? THANKS
It’s about time! I’ve seen fees that double the cost of an advertised room rate. Resort fees, parking fees, cleaning fees… it really has gotten out of control.
Hi Ron! A good example the writer mentions is how some hotels don’t give you the full price up front and make you go through different booking screens online. These force you to add mandatory fees, which could include things like “resort fees” they are allowed to charge which allow you to use all the amenities. The hotel dictates what those resort fees cover, which can be anything from the ability to use the coffee pot in your room to gym access, even if you don’t plan on going to the gym or never use the coffee pot, but these fees are not showing up when you begin to book and get added throughout the booking process. The lawsuit was to force hotels to give all these prices up front so you’re not surprised later.
Thank you, Gigi