U.S. hotels have given up on extra fees, raising room rates instead


Skift Take

Guests don't enjoy sneaky fees and hotels don't enjoy arguing over them. Including a few basics -- like Wi-Fi -- for free builds loyalty and makes everyone happy.

Hotels are not airlines. OK, you know that. But, after making lots of noise in recent years about focusing on building additional ancillary fee revenue streams -- just as the airlines are charging for bag fees etc -- and exhibiting symptoms of a syndrome that Freud might have labeled "fee envy," many hotels in the U.S. are giving up on ancillary fees as their salvation. Or at least fees for Wi-Fi, in-room movie rentals, and parking are becoming much less of a focus for many hotels, with resort properties being a notable exception. Instead, many hotels ar