Over the years, we’ve seen the increasing trend of hotels charging either resort fees or destination fees. These are essentially junk fees intended to sneakily boost revenue.
Different hotel groups have different ways they handle these fees on award bookings. For example, World of Hyatt waives these fees when redeeming points for all members, which is a nice touch. Marriott, on the other hand, doesn’t waive these fees when redeeming points.
However, here’s a new one — a Marriott property in Hawaii has found a way to charge a resort fee when redeeming points, but not when paying cash.
In this post:
Marriott hotel sneakily adds resort fee when redeeming points
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, a Marriott Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, has started charging a $60 per night resort fees for stays as of August 1, 2026 (thanks to MAXDRVR flagging this). Resort fees are common in Hawaii, though historically the property has differentiated itself by not charging these.
So when you look at making a points booking, you’ll now notice the $60 daily fee disclosed. 
Okay, that sort of sucks, but this isn’t uncommon in Hawaii, so how mad can you really be? Well, here’s the interesting twist on this — the resort fee is only being charged when redeeming points, and not when paying cash. So this is quite literally a tax on award redemptions.
The hotel is trying to get away with this through a rather devious scheme. When you look at the cash rates, you’ll see that they all display as being “exempt from resort fee,” either in the actual rate name, or in the rate description.
Marriott isn’t great at enforcing its policies and holding hotels accountable, but I’d imagine that it would violate company guidelines to charge these fees only on award bookings. The argument here is clearly “oh, we charge a resort fee on all rates, but we waive it on select rates.”
What does the resort fee actually include, though?
You might be wondering how this will work. Will only those redeeming points get the benefits associated with the resort fee, or what about those paying cash, who are exempt from the fee? Here’s the long list of things included with the resort fee, per the hotel’s website:
- Daily cultural activities for two guests: sunrise ceremony, ukulele, coconut weaving, bamboo stamping, lei, hula, olelo language, koi feeding
- Welcome drink and towel service for two guests per stay
- Fresh orchid or kukui nut lei for two guests per stay
- Mauna Kea logo beach bag per room, per stay
- Mauna Kea logo water flasks for two guests per stay
- Daily 8AM morning seaside yoga class for two guests per stay
- Daily one hour stand-up paddle board rental for two guests
- Daily one hour snorkel gear rental for two guests
- Daily one hour boogie board rental for two guests
- Daily one hour kayak rental for two guests
- Daily enhanced high-speed internet access
- Bonvoy Elite amenity (Gold members and above) of daily $5 folio credit
I know everyone is going to be absolutely shocked to hear this, but these are all things that were previously included with stays. The only exception is the $5 daily folio credit, and that’s because elite member have to be provided a replacement benefit on resort fees when Wi-Fi is a benefit.
So that means everyone still gets the same benefits as before, it’s just that those redeeming points will have to pay an extra $60 per night for the privilege.
Bottom line
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, has added a resort fee for stays as of August 1, 2026. Hotels typically aren’t allowed to only add resort fees on points bookings (for obvious reasons), but what’s going on here is that the hotel is simply waiving this fee when travelers pay cash.
It goes without saying that this is a really disappointing approach for a hotel to take. It also shows the difference in how Hyatt and Marriott approach loyalty — Hyatt waives resort fees on all award stays, while here we have a Marriott charging a resort fee exclusively on award stays.
What do you make of this hotel’s resort fee scheme on awards?
I'm pretty sure you could BRG the OTA/Expedia rates to get room rates in the $600-$700 range, rather than paying their $1500 Marriott rates.
Hey, being a pig worked great for Las Vegas, right?
Gave up on beautiful Hawaii long ago.
Grew up staying here, while it was always pricey, it wasn't $1500/n. The beach is amazing, the architecture interesting but now dated. Even the rooms in 2021 were feeling the sands of time.
Great beach, and I heard the pool was getting refurbished a few years ago. Ultimately $60 is nothing if your stay is free, but on principle I'll avoid.
Also if they get away with it, all will quickly follow.
It appears that the resort fee is not waived for reservations through OTAs as I see them applied to bookings through Expedia and Priceline so it does not have been intended as just a fee on award stays. It’s an interesting approach to waive the resort fee for direct Marriott.com bookings which are significantly more profitable than 3rd party channels that come with expensive commission costs.
Has anyone checked the neighboring Westin Hapuna Beach or whatever it's called? They are owned by the same owner and operated by the same management. So, I suspect the Westin is doing it too. That Westin is famous (or infamous) for refusing upgrades and refusing elites any hot items on the buffet.
"Resort" fees are such a scam....
Usually, I’d say, ‘dee…snutz!’ But in this case dee gets it.
Marriott is so dang godawful. If you’re company makes you use them, petition to change hotel vendors or allow to be a free agent.
Never forget they wrecked Starwood.
Not to do with resort fees but with Marriott properties doing whatever they want, I recently stayed at The Brown Guatape, Autograph Collection as a Titanium Elite, and at check in was told that they don’t offer complimentary breakfast on award bookings but would make an exception on this occasion!
I did 7 nights here with nights and flights- about 10 years ago. I think it was 280K marriott points and I got 110K united points and 7 nights. Amazing how much value marriott has removed from their program over the years. Its was a pretty nice hotel- but sort of run down- Not sure if its been renovated since.
It has indeed
It’s this kind of stuff that made Marriott go from my #1 hotel chain to last, even with LT Plat status. Hyatt and Hilton are just far better at how they treat elites and non-elites.
Nothing screams hospitality like being nickel and dimed.
"Resort fees are common in Hawaii". I have had a fair amount of trips to Hawaii visiting all islands a few times back when Hawai was still reasonable and not overpriced. I am glad I don't need to go back anytime soon.
Hawaii's tourism is down big time. Maybe not like Las Vegas bad but it's still down. I suspect it's because, like Las Vegas, Hawaii has just gotten to the point where it's too expensive for what's offered or people feel like they're nickled and dimed for everything.
People feel like that visiting anywhere in America. Too expensive, pushy tip-me!!! culture everywhere. It's a shame because it's a wonderful country with so many great things to see :(
I agree with you. I personally haven't spent a family vacation here in the US in the last 10 years. It makes no financial sense. Funny that it also coincides with my two boys becoming adults and no longer being able to have 4 people in the same hotel room. That actually changes the economics even more. I remember going to Hawaii and having us all in the same room but now having to book...
I agree with you. I personally haven't spent a family vacation here in the US in the last 10 years. It makes no financial sense. Funny that it also coincides with my two boys becoming adults and no longer being able to have 4 people in the same hotel room. That actually changes the economics even more. I remember going to Hawaii and having us all in the same room but now having to book 2 rooms, it is way more interesting to do that in Europe where you have to book 2 rooms anyway. It is indeed way too expensive to travel in the US with hotels, airfares, rental cars and most specifically food. The fact that food prices are still super reasonable in Europe and no tips needed makes traveling in Europe a non-brainer.
Very disappointing news as we really love the Mauna Kea. We have a reservation using points made several months ago. There was no disclosure of a fee at the time, so I'm assuming we won't be charged the fee even though our stay is several months from now?
We have previously seen properties charge a fixed resort/destination fee for "free" bookings paid with points but a percentage, like 10%, for cash stays.
This is notable because properties have to pay an application fee to Marriott for the privilege of charging a resort or destination fee. Marriott then has to approve it. So the question is, did Marriott corporate approve this or is it a rogue property?
This is NOT true:
"The only exception is the $5 daily folio credit, and that’s because elite member have to be provided a replacement benefit on resort fees when Wi-Fi is a benefit."
ALL BONVOY MEMBERS, regardless of status tier, are entitled to a replacement benefit if a property charges a resort or destination fee that includes internet access.
This is NOT true:
"The only exception is the $5 daily folio credit, and that’s because elite member have to be provided a replacement benefit on resort fees when Wi-Fi is a benefit."
ALL BONVOY MEMBERS, regardless of status tier, are entitled to a replacement benefit if a property charges a resort or destination fee that includes internet access.
Expect to see more of this. The rational isn’t to add a tax but largely to discourage points currency users as a whole.
As discussed here earlier this year the practice of the brands selling more points than what’s in the pool, along with better analytics leads their customers, hotel owners, to look for ways to eliminate the number of points based travelers.
The prior administration tried to prevent ‘junk’ fees and other deceptive tactics just like this. Clearly, we’ve fallen so far, and fast. For now, sad to say, but consumers stand little chance, other than to just say no, stay home, and reject this. Looking forward to better times where we regulate this nonsense out of existence. Come at me, ye corporate shills!
A $5 daily credit - how can the hotel even afford such a lavish benefit?
In a movie, actor Gene Hackman is speaking with a priest. The priest tells him that all sins can be forgiven. Gene Hackman responds, "You don't understand Father, I do real estate."
Are you sure that's in a movie? Are you sure that's not...nothing?
Whoever is paying $1400 a night for this hotel is also being robbed. Wow.
Yeah I think it's becoming one of Lucky's 'point farms'
But you don't have to pay the resort fee though.
Seriously, I don't understand why they bother to waive the $60 fee.
It’s an absolutely amazing hotel in a stunning setting and well worth $1400.
Just say NO!
If I booked here on points a few months ago for 2027 do I not have to pay?
Lou,
I also booked earlier this year for a November trip and just checked my reservation and noted that they added the resort fee to my booking. It is one thing if it is there when you book but to retroactively add it is wrong. Hope they don't start adjusting points bookings when they devalue
Marriott Marquis San Francisco is adding destination fee to points booking.
So hotels can now basically charge the equivalent of room rate on award bookings, so basically there's no award stays
#deflag