I don't know the details but if this fee is required even for rewards redemptions, is it a local tax? If so .. i wouldn't necessarily expect tax to be included in the rate.
Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
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Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#12Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#13Am I missing something? The article text suggests these are "mandatory fees and surcharges that are not included in the headline price", but all the screenshots from Marriott's site show the all-in total, inclusive of the fees, when you're searching, and then break down the elements of that price when you pay.
What's being hidden here?
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, the law is stupid, but that doesn't make the fee okay. Complying with laws, even stupid ones, is a cost of doing business.
Taxes are typically never put in a list price in California.
It doesn't seem like a tax. You wouldn't call a state government requiring a car to meet some minimum safety requirement a tax, right? At least to the best of my knowledge, no automaker has ever done an "airbag tax".
It's just a political ploy to garner some ill will against regulators and make a few bucks in the process. Seems pretty genius (in a nefarious way) to me.
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#15Am I missing something? The article text suggests these are "mandatory fees and surcharges that are not included in the headline price", but all the screenshots from Marriott's site show the all-in total, inclusive of the fees, when you're searching, and then break down the elements of that price when you pay. What's being hidden here?
Even if nothing were being hidden, there's still the issue that the hotels make you pay these sorts of junk fees even when you're supposed to be getting the room for free with points.
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#16This is not a junk fee, it's a junk law. Stupid in, stupid out.
What's stupid about the law? Do you perhaps have experience in hospitality in the LA area and/or can help illuminate the situation for us, so as to try to persuade us of your opinion? Here's a summary of the ordinance for anyone who's not familiar: https://wagesla.lacity.org/sites/g/files/wph1941/files/2022-... And what I think is the full text: https://wagesla.lacity.org/sites/g/files/wph1941/files/2022-... Doesn't…
The correct question isn't "What's stupid about this law," it's "What's necessary about this law?"
Failure to ask this question is how you end up with idiotic, counterproductive Proposition 65 warnings all over everything in sight.
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's stupid about the law? Do you perhaps have experience in hospitality in the LA area and/or can help illuminate the situation for us, so as to try to persuade us of your opinion? Here's a summary of the ordinance for anyone who's not familiar: https://wagesla.lacity.org/sites/g/files/wph1941/files/2022-... And what I think is the full text: https://wagesla.lacity.org/sites/g/files/wph1941/files/2022-... Doesn't…
The correct question isn't "What's stupid about this law," it's "What's necessary about this law?" Failure to ask this question is how you end up with idiotic, counterproductive Proposition 65 warnings all over everything in sight.
A bit of online research suggests that hotel staff that were sexually harassed/assaulted at work and subsequently not taken seriously by their management, or not allowed to file a police report on 'company time', were primary originators of the push for this ordinance.
The rest of the law focuses on things like: any work over 10 hours in one day is voluntary. Hmm, I wonder why that is necessary?
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#18SF is full of these. Every restaurant bill will have some SF Healthcare Ordinance or something else on it. Now that would be a useful proposition: all visible prices must have local taxes and fees built-in. We all know everything is going to switch to the tip entry, though. A tip for directing you to the self-checkout, no doubt.
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Taxes are typically never put in a list price in California.
It doesn't seem like a tax. You wouldn't call a state government requiring a car to meet some minimum safety requirement a tax, right? At least to the best of my knowledge, no automaker has ever done an "airbag tax". It's just a political ploy to garner some ill will against regulators and make a few bucks in the process. Seems pretty genius (in a nefarious way) to me.
If you look into it the primary intent of the ordinance is to ensure hotel workers can get help fast if they are assaulted in the course of their job, and the secondary intent is to prevent them from being overworked without consent.
Which makes this ploy especially distasteful in my eyes - bit of a "the city made us make your servants feel safe and valued at work" fee.
Re: Two Marriott Hotels Introduce New Junk Fee
#20I am really glad in Australia companies aren't typically allowed to advertise prices ex taxes / fees. They are allowed to mention the costs as a line item, but can't advertise only part of the cost (i.e. if they advertise its a $89 room, you need to be able to get it for $89)
Thankfully we have great consumer laws in Australia. This is referred to as drip pricing. It also makes practices such as mandatory minimum tips illegal, which would make someone from the US’s head spin. https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/price-displays
The only case I can think of where there is a mandatory minimum tip in the US is that a lot of restaurants will charge a minimum gratuity for parties larger than 6-8.