Vegas Free-for-All - Ok, I've done my part........

Ok, I've done my part........

Dan Svatass

Aug 23, 2013
11:06am

The best solution here would be for the hotels themselves to realize that they're making people mad and to stop doing it. That's obviously not going to happen.

The second best solution, at least for Nevada, is for the Nevada Legislature to act to protect Nevada's number 1 industry from itself and prohibit resort fees. So far it's shown no spine to do that.

Terry Locke

Aug 23, 2013
11:18am

Block User

Ray, did you mention in your complaint Gordon Ramsay's up charge for Bearnaise sauce?

wrosie

Aug 23, 2013
11:23am

Block User

Didn't the airline industry go through a similar shake out 10 or 20 years ago? Where they woiuld advertise very low prices and then the fees & taxes were outrageous. I believe it was also done to show up first in the search engines.

And that was before baggage fees.

BAGIANT

Aug 23, 2013
1:15pm

Block User

I ust don't understand why a hotel/casino just can't price the rooms at what they should be priced! You'd think that throwing in Wi-fi and spa would make more people want to go to that hotel. It should be that when you check in, if you don't want certain things that are included in the "resort fees' you should get a credit for the things you won't use.

rayxtwo

Aug 23, 2013
4:00pm

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: RoadTrip

Quote
Originally posted by: rayxtwo
While I was digging around I found a podcast where they interviewed Derek Stevens, owner of "The D" and they discuss his decision to add these fees. While he said that it was not to raise the room rates (hack, hack, cough, cough) it was done so the hotel would show up on Page 1 in the search for hotel rooms. Another reason this was done is because the travel sites like Priceline only receive their commission on the "Base Rate" of the room. A $50 room with no fees, full commission. A $25 room with a $25 resort fee, the hotel keeps half of the commission. They're not only screwing us, but the online websites too. Here's a link to the podcast so you can hear it for yourself.

Vegas Gang Podcast.

Ray

Ah! Creative accounting does rear her ugly head. And, I'm still thinking there is more to this than just saving some commissions online. I still believe the tax angle shooting is much more lucrative.

In the podcast, Mr. Stevens says that the taxes are levied at the same rate on both charges. The Gaming Commission came down on that so no tax advantage.

Ray

Dan Svatass

Aug 23, 2013
4:02pm

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: wrosie
Didn't the airline industry go through a similar shake out 10 or 20 years ago? Where they woiuld advertise very low prices and then the fees & taxes were outrageous. I believe it was also done to show up first in the search engines.

And that was before baggage fees.

I don't know what you're recalling from many years ago.

But Last year, the Obama Administration enacted a regulation that, for the first time, required airlines to include all non-optional charges, including taxes, PFCs, fuel, and the September 11 security fees, in their advertised airfares. The new rules help consumers compare the true costs of air travel, and then make an informed decision. I think a couple airlines (Spirit is one) has been fined pretty hard for tricking people.

Wish the State of Nevada had similar guts to take on an industry.