This Is Low: Andaz Maui Retroactively Adds Resort Fee

By: Ben Schlappig

Updated: April 3, 2015
Published: April 2, 2015

43 comments

Update: Hyatt and the Andaz Maui have clarified the new policy as follows:

Andaz Maui at Wailea is not applying the Resort Fee retroactively. A resort fee will be applied for any new reservations booked beginning April 2, 2015 for arrival after June 1, 2015.
If the reservation was booked April 1, 2015 or earlier, a resort fee will not apply, however, the guest will have the option to opt in and pay the resort fee to partake in the experience we will be including rather than paying a la carte.
The resort fee is not optional for new reservations booked beginning April 2, for arrival after June 1, 2015.
A Resort Fee will apply for all individual travel reservations, including Award Reservations.

I hate when hotels charge resort fees. Resort fees are basically a way to artificially raise the cost of hotel stays, given that many people don’t pay attention to the “fine print.”

And I never really understood resort fees either. If I’m to stay at a resort, shouldn’t my room include the amenities of the hotel, rather than there being an extra, standardized fee which covers things like towels at the pool, etc. It’s the hotel equivalent of airline fuel surcharges. If I’m paying for a plane ticket, shouldn’t the cost of that ticket include fuel?

But I also get why hotels charge resort fees. Because any resort that doesn’t charge one would instantly be at a disadvantage. When people are comparing rates they’d be comparing the rates of one hotel with a resort fee to another hotel without a resort fee. So it’s really tough for hotels to break the resort fee “cycle.”

Andaz-Maui

However, here’s an especially egregious resort fee situation, which a couple of readers have reached out to me about. The Andaz Maui is one of the Hyatt properties I’m most wanting to visit, and up until now they haven’t had a resort fee… which is rare for hotels in Hawaii.

Resort-Fee-1

However, the Andaz Maui will be adding a $40 resort fee for stays as of June 1, 2015.

Resort-Fee-2

The worst part?

Best I can tell they’re not actually disclosing the fee on their website, aside from the rate summary
They’re applying this policy retroactively to people that made bookings before the resort fee was added

Most hotels with resort fees clearly disclose on the front page of their booking site that there’s a resort fee, and ultimately there’s a good chance the Andaz just hasn’t gotten around to adding that.

Resort-Fee

But what I guess makes resort fees such a gray area is that they’re not technically part of the room rate. So if you booked the Andaz Maui a week ago for a week-long stay in June, you’re out an extra $280.

I can’t imagine a hotel would ever try to retroactively change the rate you booked, but this is a sneaky way to basically increase room rates even post-purchase.

Bottom line

While I hate resort fees, I get why hotels charge them — they couldn’t compete on price if they didn’t. That being said, I think it’s highly unethical to add a resort fee and charge that to those that already made a booking. I hope the hotel reconsiders.

How do you feel about resort fees, and especially about hotels adding them after you made a booking?

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Mark Guest

April 5, 2015, 3:02 am

You know the revenue managers are out of new ideas to maximize revpar when resort fees are added. Time for them to move on to a new job where they can add value without screwing customers.... Personally I avoid all properties that have this tax - and that - costs the property even more in lost revenue.

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Betty Guest

April 3, 2015, 2:23 pm

"Aloha, Beginning today (April 2, 2015) for new reservations booked for travel from June 1, 2015 a resort fee of $40 per day will be added to the daily rate. As an Andaz we strive to listen to our guests and evolve to their needs and wants. Since opening in 2013 one of the comments we keep hearing is that people don’t want to be “nickle and dimed” throughout their stay." Really???? This is your pathetic excuse??? If you really were listening to guests then you would make the fee OPTIONAL! You give your guests a choice. If it was truly worth anywhere close to $350/day to most people - there is no way you could put a $40/day price tag on it. At least call a spade a spade and say something like - We have determined that at our resort we can charge a JUNK fee of $40/day because that is what the market will bear. So Sorry if you don't like it but our room occupancy rates allow us to do this. I hate it when people and businesses are disingenuous. I will think long and hard before I stay at Andaz Maui in the future.

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Rick Guest

April 3, 2015, 10:02 am

Having justified the $30 parking as offset to NO resort fee in the past, adding $40 for a daily resort fee seems outrageous! As having stayed there a few times, it has been obvious that the benefits have been on the decline. The so called water bottles are not given out. You have to ask and ask and ask for one. On the last trip, it was a plane debranded bottle and the water stations often low to empty. Turn down service was poor and the mini bar not refreshed. We had to constantly call and ask. Outrigger on print mentioned it is was free on all the paperwork, but was actually charged $15. Nominal, but was the point of a bait and switch. What Four Seasons and Ritz had done well was simply have one cost. And they have a can do attitude where what you ask for is always going to happen. Hyatt not so much. There are more No answers than yes. If you want to charge luxury rates, you should be a luxury hotel and not slide in fees on top of other fees that are tax at a crazy percentage. In a side not, this is a nice property but accommodations, beach chairs, lounging areas definitely not luxury. At this price, there are far better options on the beach. Somehow management has gone south removing Diamond breakfast and adding these fees disguised and valuable amenities. The price is much too high on top of the parking. Not to mention, I am sure availability and consistency of these amnesties, that Hyatt does not do well at, will surely be a problem. Andaz Maui had a niche and allure. Not any more. Wailea has Four Seasons and the Fairmont and Kapalua have Miontage and the Ritz that blow Andaz away in my opinion.

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Mike Guest

April 3, 2015, 6:26 am

Maui Andaz very nice hotel.i have been there before and am staying there in Dec. That said, my reservations were made prior to April 2. Glad you had the hotel clarify this point. Just yesterday I was thinking of extending stay 3 days, but due to this resort fee decided against it. Will move to Maui Hyatt near Lahaina or Marriott Wailea (almost next door) for those 3 days. I honestly don't expect to stay at Maui Andaz anymore due to parking plus resort fees as they have priced themselves up too much and these fees so offend me. The Andaz brand itself is not supposed to charge resort fees. $40 resort fee not including parking is very offensive.

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John Tarik Guest

April 3, 2015, 3:23 am

How do I feel? I look at politicians focusing on removing people's rights in the name of religion while allowing companies to screw law abiding citizens this way. Couldn't feel better, right?

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