Think resort fees are too high? A lawsuit claims the fees made Marriott tens of millions.

Recently unsealed documents from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s 2019 lawsuit against Marriott allege that the company and its self-managed resorts make tens of millions from resort fees every year.

Marriott itself – which operates and franchises more than 7,000 properties and 30 brands across the globe – made approximately $17 million from resort fees in 2019, according to a motion for summary judgment. Its self-managed resorts made $66 million in 2012, $82 million in 2013 and $58 million through half of 2014 from the fee, the lawsuit filing says.

Resort fees, also referred to as "destination fees" or "amenity fees," have become a common practice among hotel operators since their inception in the late 1990s. The additional costs are said to cover additional services such as Wi-Fi, parking or pool and gym access – standard resort features that previously did not carry extra charges.

The fees can be upwards of $40 a night in major vacation destinations including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Florida, and are among the top fees hotel guests love to hate.