Booking to Charge Commission on Resort Fees in Major Shake-Up for Hotel Revenue

In a game-changing move, Booking.com is notifying hotels around the world that it will begin charging them commissions on resort fees, as well as other fee-based services, such as for Wi-Fi, on top of a hotel's base rate, Skift has learned. This is believed to be the first time Booking.com or any other major online travel agency charged commissions on controversial resort fees, although it may be in some hotel contracts, but was never implemented. Hotels levying resort fees have often used them to avoid paying commissions to travel agencies to boost their own coffers. Resort fees have been a lightning rod between hotels and consumers. The fees are not part of the advertised base rate for a room and can vary by hotel and city. In Las Vegas, for example, resort fees are sometimes higher than the room charge. Hotels rationalize charging the fees because they say it pays for various amenities at hotels, including pool use, gym access and newspapers. Consumer groups have argued res