Nowadays we’re used to hotels trying to add all kinds of junk fees to the cost of stays. These often come in the form of resort or destination fees, though we’ve also increasingly seen hotels add additional service fees, for everything ranging from electricity to credit card processing. Well, here’s a new one for me,…
Continue reading: IHG Hotel Charges $4.99 Nightly Security Fee: New Junk Fee Low?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
If was/is truly being spent on better security I might not have an issue with it. But I get the feeling it's just a grift.
I dislike junk fees but I don't mind this one if someone is patrolling the parking lot at night to deter cars from getting broken into. That does cost a hundred or so dollars per a night.
I strongly doubt that's the goal of this fee at this Staybridge Suites in Oklahoma
Like low cost airlines, low rent accommodation offers little of interest to many travellers. However, one appreciates Ben making this information available to his readers.
George, after viewing the accommodation on Google Earth, one can see that if there is a security threat, then the property would benefit from a perimeter fence, CCTV and not a spurious security charge.
If a hotel cannot provide security, which everyone considers pretty basic for a hotel, then many people won't be staying there.
One can only hope that this place has thought through their liability with this junk fee. Should anything happen to someone staying at that property, pointing out that they paid extra for security is A) Evidence that the hotel knew they had a security problem (whether or not the hotel actually *does* have a security problem is another matter), and B) They charged customers more for security that wasn't properly provided.
Good luck on the lawsuits, whether it be theft from a room, an auto break-in, or anything, really.
I don't mind a "roof fee" either....to ensure that the hotel continues to have a roof to keep its guests dry during inclement weather.
It has 85 rooms, so at capacity it's collecting $425 a day. Security guard in Tulsa, including payroll taxes and benefits, costs about $25 an hour. So that's two 8-hour shifts, which in a high-crime area like Tulsa might be advisable. (We all know what happened there in 1921, and I saw that Flower Moon movie.) Or maybe they need to change the locks on all the doors, so they don't use physical keys, and install deadbolts. Maybe they already did it, and now have to pay off the credit card they used to finance it.
If they are concerned about security for the parking lot, they could charge extra for parking instead of providing it free.
From a pure risk management standpoint, they are REALLY opening themselves up legally if they don't provide improved security. The first thing a plaintiff's attorney will ask them is what "improvements" were made on behalf of the customer who pays this fee.
At least IHG has a “include taxes and fees” toggle on their website and app that allows you to see all-in pricing on the search results page.
Unlike Hilton which only shows “includes fees but excludes taxes”…in what scenario is this helpful?
They spent those money to retain McKinsey to tell them security is adequate every monthly evaluation.
No legal risks here.
Part of the reason they add it might be that it's even charged on award nights (since IHG doesn't waive fees when using points, even for elites), scamming a little unearned revenue from people even on "free nights." Searched a random night on points, and sure enough: 18K points, "excludes $4.99 USD Amenity Fee per night." Wish IHG would crack down on this, and maybe join Hyatt and Hilton in waiving such fees altogether on award nights.
So simple... Fed regulation...
BAN ALL NON-OPTIONAL FEEs for airlines, rental cars and hotels.
(IMHO - Bag fees are fine on flights. Don't want to pay it, don't fly with so much.)
You list a flight/car/hotel for $242... it is TWO FORTY TWO. Period.
It's not simple at all when you involve legislation. It's slow, arduous and often goes nowhere because legislators attempts to use every issue as a voter wedge issue, bills get lumped in with bills that have no chance of passing.
Overall I don't care about the fees as long as it's already lumped into the advertised rate. What I can't stand is at the end of the booking process I find an extra $100/night to hotel fee, city fee, airport fee, my child's soccer trip fee, my mistresses new tennis bracelet fee. Or even worse when they don't charge the fee up front and wait until you check out.
How magnanimous of you to offer this condescending comment ! ... lol
Signed an American tariff victim.
If I saw this entitled junk fee on a hotel website, immediately a red flag would pop with an aural bell chime, warning me to eliminate this hotel from consideration at any price.
Couldn't they come up with a less threatening title ? I'd be almost happy to pay 99cent 'marketing fee enhancement charge for the extra staff & time !
Actually, per the embedded room pic, I think the fridge & microwave look perfectly fine, unless they're inoperative or plastic facsimiles ! .. lol
When are hotel chains going to rein in behavior like this. They seem to let their franchisees away with whatever they want.
Americans voted for this very exact deregulated freedom.
Now enjoy the fruits of what you sowed!
Good luck when every hotel does this.
Plenty of people said they would never book a hotel with a resort fee in Las Vegas. You just try to do so nowadays.
Americans just voted for deregulation.
Very simple - it's not going to happen.
Hotels have been charging these junk fees regardless of who's been in power. (Biden at least required them to be disclosed up front, but didn't eliminate or crack down on them.)
That said, I just looked it up, and apparently at least some Trump Hotels do charge resort fees. So I guess I wouldn't hold my breath... (though in a way, at least resort fees are less dishonest than this)
The odd thing is that hardly anybody would notice if this hotel just raised its base fee by $5/night. But adding a junk fee of the same amount makes the hotel look much worse.
Here's a Marriott one - Springhill Suites Columbia nr Fort Jackson
Taxes & Fees (per night per room)
Estimated Government Taxes & Fees 15.60 USD
Destination Marketing Fee 2.60 USD
I didn't notice it until after I booked otherwise I would have gone elsewhere
Ha, this security fee seems like something Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone's character) in 'Tulsa King' would be glad to provide some "muscle" to help with. lol
The H in La near the airport has a so -called security fee of $4.99 per night.. I asked the front desk and other staff what they fee provided and they could not answer me... They said they knew nothing about it or security!!!!