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MGM Resorts Increasing Resort Fees

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by SH0CK, Oct 24, 2016.

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  1. Timbuck

    Timbuck Low-Roller

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    I used to think my inlaws were crazy for owning a few time share weeks. Seems that the annual maintenance fee they pay is about equal to what the resort fee and parking would run them for a week at The Bellagio.
     
  2. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Just more support for why we stay downtown now. Yes, even there most of the properties have resort fees, but they are lower and typically comped if the room is otherwise comped. Better gaming rules and pay tables, no charge for parking (if staying there), no having to earn drinks through metered play, no "facility charges" on restaurant bills, no menu time of day pricing, all make downtown attractive if you're mainly there for the gambling. We just take day trips to the strip if there's something we want to see.
     
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  3. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Not me, I stay downtown, at the Boyd hotels which for now do not charge resort fees.

    I agree with you, vote with your wallets. If I do searches and the lowest nightly rate including resort fees are the lowest I will book that property. Not necessarily true though, if the rate is only a few bucks a night difference I will stay at the Boyd hotels instead.

    To each his/her own. To some the problem is that they are using resort fees to tack on higher and rising prices instead of just raising hotel rates.


    Get over it? I hope one day the legislators or city council people in vegas require hotels to include the total price, including all fees instead of adding on hidden and resort fees. They already did most of that with the major airlines who now include all their prices except for baggage fees when you are searching for flights. Yes, the smaller airlines still nickel and dime their passengers but I don't fly with them.
     
  4. the nuts

    the nuts VIP Whale

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    Its just basic business protocol. As long as people pay to stay at these hotels they will continue to nickel and dime you until some regulation stops them. Its a matter of testing the limits. I would not be surprised if we see resort fees at $50 eventually. The part that bothers me is the wifi included with resort fees is slower than my cell connection. At least give me decent wifi if youre gonna charge me for it. As for the fitness center, I make sure to go down there every day and dirty some machine, throw some towels around, etc. to get my moneys worth. Heck if Im being charged for it without a choice then Im gonna use it!

    Check it out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/is-the-ftc-about-to-ban-hotel-resort-fees_us_5766c68fe4b034ff3eef9e0e
     
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  5. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    The aren't built into the room rate because deception is part of the strategy. Resort fees allow hotels to advertise rates that are lower than what the market and/or their cost structure can bear.

    They are perpetuated by the fact that any hotel which doesn't use them is at a competitive disadvantage. If one does it, they all have to do it.

    I don't get all huffy about hotels charging resort fees as a "screwing to the customer". They are an inevitable outcome in a competitive market where the regulations allow for such deception in marketing. They have no choice. Any hotel that backs down from the resort fee scheme voluntarily is going to get smoked by their competition as long as their customers make their choices based on room rate alone.

    The only way they go away is if new laws or passed or existing laws are interpreted to categorize resort fees as a form of false advertising. Until then they'll keep escalating until it hits the point of absurdity.

    I'd like to think that educated consumers could also make them go away by demonstrating a market preference for zero resort fees but that ain't happening. If that was a possibility than CET's "no resort fees" pitch from several years back would have stuck.
     
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  6. Aces and Eights

    Aces and Eights VIP Whale

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    For many people I don't think it's the actual cost of the resort fee, but how it is presented. If the rates increased by four or five dollars every so often, you wouldn't hear as much about it. But when it's labeled as fees, it sounds more like a tax, and for many, it shouldn't be a huge percentage of the basic rate. What gets people angry about it including me is that I think establishments who charge these are trying to be deceptive, thinking that some people will overlook the added fees in their decision to make the transaction.

    Just as the Truth-in-Lending Act for borrowing money to buy a home, there should be a Truth-in-Charging Act that requires places who have different fees to disclose the bottom line price and not in small print. I don't get charged for any of these fees, but I understand how others feel. People care about the total cost, not that one part of what they have to pay is inexpensive.
     
  7. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Makes comped rooms even more valuable.
     
  8. buckeyetodd

    buckeyetodd High-Roller

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    i am thinking along the same lines as insin......i think at some point there is going to be someone attack the resort fee on the legal level much like the airline hidden fees.
     
  9. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    We're all pretty savvy here when it comes to Vegas travel, but others are not as informed. I had some friends going to Vegas a couple years ago for a convention. They were excited about their trip and I mentioned the resort fees. They didn't know what I was talking about. They were shocked that was "allowed" and told other people attending the event, who also weren't aware of the fine print in their reservation that explained the fees.

    I am in the anti-resort fee camp. I didn't like them when they were $12 a night, but accepted them, as I was already paying near that for the crappy wi-fi so I could work from the hotel. I really don't like them at $30+ because I don't see the value in them. I don't want to get a USA Today from the gift shop and I don't use the fitness rooms. When I see hotels including things like "Pool access" and personal my favorite at the Super 8 "complimentary truck parking", it annoys me. I'm not sure I see them going away unless there is some kind of legislation or people start voting with their feet, causing some damage to their bottom line.

    It seems like the Strip hotels seem to think they have a captive audience. They can charge resort fees, CNF fees at restaurants, parking fees, crappy pay tables and BJ rules, etc. I hope eventually the market will respond and they will need to adjust, but I'm just as guilty as the next person as I pay them. I did switch from Mlife to CET on my last trip to protest the parking fees, but I paid the RF at Paris and played the bad VP on the Strip. Maybe my next trip will be different, but I've got to convince a dozen other people to join me off-Strip. ;)
     
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  10. Chicken Dinner

    Chicken Dinner Low-Roller

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    Its my understanding that the resort fee money goes 100% to the hotel. When people book via 3rd party websites the 3rd party gets a cut of the price/nite which doesnt include the resort fee.
     
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  11. WHU66

    WHU66 High-Roller

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    Let's face it, it's not going anywhere but up......
     
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  12. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    They are here to stay unless legislation or a mandate kicks in.

    The thing is, RFs get legitimized by comped folks not having to pay them. It says that it's separate and way to reward loyal customers.

    What's funny is that everyone complains.....then still pays them. One key thing is that going to Vegas is just short of a complete luxury trip that doesn't have to have participation.

    We normally go every year for our anniversary but I think we are about to switch locations and go elsewhere. Here's hoping the FTC kills it one day....that and CNFs.
     
  13. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    The funny thing is that I'd rather use my wifi hotspot on my phone rather the hotel's wifi.

    Resort fees are insidious since you can't avoid them unless you avoid the hotel.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 26, 2016
  14. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Im CET comped and pay RF everytime!
     
  15. remmerde

    remmerde VMB's Resident Cigar Sommelier

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    Same here, almost every friend I know who checks rates don't know about the resort fees. Even the savvy ones who go quite often.

    It's clearly intended to deceive. As woodsie said, CET did their best to hold the line and use it as a competitive advantage. But it didn't work. So unfortunate.

    And I despise MGM for their implementation on their website. The first click-thru says "Total Offer Price" and it excludes the resort fees. Clearly and intentionally deceptive. Only when you click "Book This Room" do you see a grand total, but even there, it's third from the bottom line. Again, intentionally deceptive, hoping you'll quickly scan to the bottom price, which is merely the check-in total due (after booking deposit).

    I give CET credit for at least letting you see the grand total from the rate view page.
     
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  16. BlueBellThunder

    BlueBellThunder VIP Whale

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    First parking fees now raising the resort fee. Total bullshit. I was in Vegas 2 weeks ago and only paid the parking fee since we had free tix for Zumanity. I for one will continue to boycott MGM properties unless it's for a myVEGAS redemption. At least I get discount or comped rooms at CET properties. I used to split my play about 50/50 between MGM & CET. I will sometimes get offers of 1 free night if I pay for 2. My last trip was at Ballys. Stayed 7 nights with 5 comped. But with resort fees and the 2 paid nights the bill was still over $400. Not bad overall but I miss the days of comped rooms being totally free. I just hope CET doesn't follow MGM with the parking. It's not the dollar amount it's the principal. It was the one thing Vegas offers that now other large city does, free parking at major hotels. I wonder when MGM will add a resort fee to the parking fee. Maybe they'll install pay toilets in the casino. I also think free drinks are going to be a thing of the past.
     
  17. bdautch

    bdautch VIP Whale

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    How long until these are referred to as Raiders fees?
     
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  18. petp13

    petp13 Low-Roller

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    People bashing MGM but no one even noticed that Wynn/Encore had raised their resort fee to $35 before them.
     
  19. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    Venetian and Palazzo too.

    I thought I made the comment on page one that they were just trying to keep up with Wynn but it must not have posted. :(

    I'm not singling out any particular property other than my statement that I stayed at CET this time because of Mlife's parking fee. I'm anti-RF in general. Some get my ire up more than others (Hello, Super 8!!!) But the OP was sharing an announcement sent out to MGM Resorts affiliates, so maybe that's why it seems like they are taking more heat in this thread.
     
  20. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    The consumer response needs to be what are we getting in return. This is the fourth or fifth increase with no new perks.
     
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