Marriott To Include Resort Fees In Total Prices, Breaking New Ground in Lawsuit Settlement

Marriott International plans by May 15 to disclose resort fees in the total prices it displays in its initial search results on its website and mobile app. It’s the long-awaited outcome of a 2021 settlement with Pennsylvania — that required the Bethesda, Maryland-based hotel operator to include in fees in upfront total prices.

Marriott is the first of the global hotel groups to make the change, which pertains to extra fees for services and amenities offered during a hotel or resort stay. All the other global hotel groups and online travel agencies have continued to charge fees for services or amenities at some properties and exclude them from the room rate or bury them in “taxes and fees,” according to ResortFeeChecker.

“We have been working diligently over the last several months on the technology required to update our room rate display and further enhance the way these fees are disclosed, in accordance with our agreement with the State of Pennsylvania,” a Marriott spokesperson said. “In fact, when we deploy our changes by May 15, we expect to be the first hospitality company to change its display, leading the industry on this important issue.”

It remained uncertain whether other non-resort fees properties may change, such as mandatory fees for non-valet or valet parking, and would be included in Marriott’s updated search results later this month.