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, as flagged by View from the Wing, which might just be a new low…
In this post:
Staybridge Suite charges nightly security fee
The Staybridge Suites Tulsa-Woodland Hills, which is part of IHG, has $4.99 per night in additional charges, beyond the room rate and taxes.
So, what’s the fee for? As you’ll discover during the booking process, the hotel provides the following description:
“Service fee assists to invest in upgrades and initiatives for guest security”
That’s, ummm, quite something. I suppose the hotel has so few amenities that there’s nothing else they could reasonably attribute the fee too. But one certainly wonders how the hotel is spending hundreds of dollars per day on security.
Of course the answer is that it isn’t actually spending that money on security, and presumably it’s just being used to pad the pockets of the owners. Looking at pictures of the hotel, I’d feel better if they charged a $4.99 nightly fee to invest in microwave and refrigerator upgrades. 
IHG is the king of little hotel junk fees
While annoying resort and destination fees are hardly exclusive to any hotel group, I’ve gotta say, IHG is the worst when it comes to its limited service properties adding little fees to the cost of rooms, seemingly for nothing. It’s so common to see IHG add $2-5 nightly fees to rates, I guess in hops that customers don’t notice or care.
There’s a certain irony to it, since hotels generally have to market all-in rates, including all mandatory fees, so it doesn’t actually accomplish much. But it lowers the commission that hotels have to pay online travel agencies, so there’s that little benefit. I also suspect hotels think that the psychology of showing a lower rate in addition to a fee makes guests more likely to book.
It sure would be nice if IHG got a little more control over its individual properties, and prevented them from charging these kinds of fees. Then again, nowadays hotel owners run the show and call the shots, and not the major hotel groups.
Bottom line
A Staybridge Suites in Oklahoma charges a $4.99 nightly fee for guest security. While we’re used to seeing hotels add little fees to the cost of hotel stays, being charged extra for “security initiatives” sure isn’t very reassuring. But IHG just lets hotels get away with whatever, so there’s no limit to what they can attribute fees to. Some hotels deserve credit for their creativity… or something.
What do you make of this IHG hotel fee?
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.
this is something delta, america's least premium airline, would do
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.
They spent those money to retain McKinsey to tell them security is adequate every monthly evaluation.
No legal risks here.
“Not a white refrigerator!”
They're just following 9/11 security fee.
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...
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 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...
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.
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.
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
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.
If they are concerned about security for the parking lot, they could charge extra for parking instead of providing it free.
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.
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.
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?