US hotels have started to introduce a sneaky new fee that will make your holidays even more expensive.
The extra charges, usually listed as “venue fees”, are automatically applied to your food and drinks bill in restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
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And right now, they’re particularly prevalent in Las Vegas.
One holidaymaker was recently caught out by the fee at Park MGM and took to Twitter to complain.
He said: “Hey @ParkMGM, you quietly put a “venue fee” on bar guests without telling us?! Lowlife behaviour, unbelievable.
“You have 24 hours to reply to me with an apology AND a promise to refund before I file a chargeback on your sorry asses. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
According to a response from the hotel, the venue fee is applied to everything from the table service to bar service.
The hotel added: “This fee is applied to all things that keep the venue operationally running, like the gaming maintenance for all bar top games, Wi-Fi, lounge maintenance.”
The Tweet sparked heated response from the public.
One person tweeted: “I thought the profit they make just from selling food and drinks was supposed to keep the venue running and operational.”
Another added: “At least they reduced drink prices, since that revenue apparently isn’t needed to cover normal operating costs, oh wait that didn’t happen either did it…. Everything wrong with Vegas today is summarized in this single transaction.”
Many people were also outraged as the property already charges a resort fee.
Resort fees normally covers all the facilities of a resort, include the swimming pool and gym, regardless of whether or not you use them.
They are long hated by holidaymakers as they are mandatory charges that are applied on top of the cost of your hotel room but they’re not always advertised.
At Park MGM, the resort fee is currently $37 (£29.96) a day and includes gym access, internet and local phone calls according to Casino.org.
But Park MGM is far from the only venue that charges a venue fee or indeed a resort fee.
Since last year, nightclubs in Las Vegas have been charging the fee according to Vital Vegas, which varies from venue to venue.
Certain places apply a Concession and Franchise Fee instead, a similar charge that isn’t listed on any menus or inside the venue according to Frommers.
Marriott and Hilton were both taken to court this year over the “deceptive” fees.
There are also hotels that charge tourists for housekeeping.
Sun Online Travel has contacted Park MGM for comment.
