I was speculating a few months back that Hyatts Motif in Seattle charged the most outrageous resort or destination fees in the country. It covered the bathroom mirror, television and, among other things, the in-room coffeemaker. These items were removed from the list of items covered by the resort fees after I exposed it. They have not reduced or eliminated this fee.
Another destination fee is charged at Hyatt properties. It might be worse, or even more so. The Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor destination fee covers both the view and the right to take photos. The $25 per-night inclusion includes Panoramic Views of Boston with Photo Opportunity. They might offer to take your picture with a professional camera.
Credit: Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor
Does it make sense to say that the room rate does not include looking out of the window and taking pictures, and that you are charged an extra fee for doing so, or is it better to say that it doesn't include the TV in the bathroom or the mirror in the bathroom? How does this compare to Hyatts San Jose Hotel de Anza, San Jose?
These fees add on to the room rate and are not optional. These fees are part of the room price, but the hotel will advertise a lower rate. This is deceptive on the face. They were originally only for resorts, but city hotels started charging destination fees.
The fees are displayed only at check-out and not when you compare hotel rates. This makes it difficult for hotel guests to be aware of the total cost and allows them to compare prices. The Federal Trade Commission said that they are okay with this practice, provided the fees are made public before confirming your stay.
Hyatt does not charge resort or destination fees for award redemptions and Globalist members don't have to pay them for revenue stays. These three fees are the most outrageous I've ever seen, and they all come from Hyatts. Perhaps this is a sign that Hyatt needs to uphold its brand standards in this area.
