From the chronicles of absurd hotel fees comes a laughable new chapter: adding gratuity for items consumed from the in-room minibar.
Hotel Adds Minibar Gratuity…What’s Next?
A reader shared his recent folio at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport in British Columbia, which includes his room charge and many other taxes and fees. He consumed a bottle of water and a snack from the minibar inside his guest room. For those who are not aware, a minibar is a small refrigerator in a hotel room that is stocked with alcoholic beverages and snacks. Guests can purchase these items (at inflated prices), but the thought is that there is a premum to be paid for convenience.
Since the pandemic, I’ve seen fewer hotels offer fully-stocked minibars, but they are still widely available around the world. Prices tend to be 3-4X what the item would sell for in a grocery store.
Anyway, his bill included not only the price for the minibar items and the tax, but a “refreshment centre gratuity” fee.
I mean, I know that minibars have to be manually restocked, but isn’t 12CAD for a bottle of water enough? Is it really necessary to add a ~10% restocking/gratuity fee…I think it is crazy.
This isn’t the first questionable mandatory surcharge at a Fairmont hotel. In April, I wrote about the obligatory “housekeeping surcharge” and “baggage fee” at the Fairmont Château Whistler.
> Read More: Luxury Hotel Adds Mandatory “Housekeeping Surcharge”
What’s next, automatic gratuity for generating room keys? Automatic gratuity for printing menus in restaurants? This is all so crazy.
I avoid minibars…that’s the safest bet…but it seems that at least at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport high prices are not enough…gratuity must be added too.
Not that weird, many luxury hotels (and even non luxury I am sure) add their standard service charge to all F&B, including in room bar.
I find it very strange. What sort of “gratuity” is involved in taking a bottle of water already in your room? It’s foolishness.
If they re-labeled it service charge would you not find it strange? Maybe they just need to re-brand their fee.
As I said many luxury hotels add a mandatory service fee to all FB which is also added to in room bar. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brando did it, check your notes or pictures on the mini bar prices if it says plus taxes and service. Most Aman hotels do it. Luxury hotels in Mexico and Caribbean too.
I definitely don’t agree with it but it really isn’t that abnormal.
Well, someone had to put it in that mini-bar so you could select and consume it… Then they have to replace it if you “consume” it. No different than paying gratuity for someone to bring your room service order to your room, then pickup/remove it when you are done. Yes BS I know (the room service involves amplified level of labor/service for the same percentage gratuity….)
Right……like a job. You get PAID to do stuff.
Do you think that the person who restocks it works only for tips or do you think they’re paid hourly?
The hospitality sector in North America is getting crazier and crazier by the month. I hope it doesn’t spill over into Europe. Some restaurants in Brussels started suggested tipping amounts now to the checks… Not happy
We had the same experience in Brussels a couple of weeks ago.
We were in Schweiz last week, and I was shocked when I was given tip options at the Taverne restaurant in Interlaken and Hilton Geneva.
Of course, I am very happy to tip for good service, but it looks like the US tipping culture is making it’s way to Europe,
Was that on those electronic screens or on paper? Those electronic screens used for touch less payment is what will put an end to the tipping culture for good. It is one of those things that has pushed tipping way too far and people are getting fed up with it. The other day I saw they added smile faces and a description to each % of tip which makes you feel even more guilty if you don’t tip. A 18% had a sad face and something like “service was just ok” and went up to 28% with a big smile face and service was outstanding. WTF!!!
Was this in Minnesota or are you in Europe?
The smily faces? At a bakery here in MN. I was shocked. It is not really their fault, it is one of these predatory providers of the machines that have their software installed.
It was an electronic handheld screen at the Taverne Restaurant in Interlaken and good old fashioned paper prompt at the Hilton Geneva restaurant.
Protip: look the cashier in the eye as you put a finger on that big fat 0% in the screen to assert dominance
@Jan: I do that but many don’t. They feel intimidated and embarrassed because the person is in front of you watching it. It is disgusting but it is how things are done now. How many people I see giving money at the traffic lights to scammers? Person sitting there in a comfortable beach chain, an umbrella open to protect against the sun, water bottle, cell phone, sunglasses and a sign asking for “financial help”. And many stupid drivers give them money. Same goes to this tipping culture. If people stop tipping or giving money to scammers, they would disappear. But as long as there are idiots feeding the system, it will grow even bigger. BTW, I saw a guy today asking for money at the traffic light. His sign had his Venmo account on it. Not kidding.
Destination Marketing Fee? Paying for THIER advertisements?
Who exactly are you tipping in this case?
It was an electronic handheld screen at the Taverne Restaurant in Interlaken and good old fashioned paper prompt at the Hilton Geneva restaurant.
When I check out of a hotel and they ask me to give them a 5-star review, if they have charged any kind of mandatory access/amenity/destination/resort/etc. fee, then I tell them that my review requires a “5-star review access and convenience fee” that is equal to the total of their fees because it’s going to take time for me to write the review and my time isn’t free.. They look totally confused and it takes a while for it to sink in.
I’m sorry Matthew, but posting here takes a bit of effort and creativity; therefore, I will have to add a $2.50 gratuity to my post (plus 3% for using a charge card).
Lol. Fairmont. A couple of weeks ago I had the brilliant idea of staying one night in Fairmont gran Del Mar ( San Diego area) and I was FORCED to pay $70 for their mandatory valet service. Yes, $70 per night + TIP.
Room was almost 1k per night. Basic stuff in luxury hotels like a bidet wasn’t there… I left the following day vey pissed as I felt robbed.
My loyalty to the Accor brand is over.
even more shocking is how he got a room rate at the Fairmont YVR for only $315!
I’ve just found a way to deal with these charges using a UK issued Mastercard. It has no benefits other than no fees for use in other currencies but it can be frozen instantly in the app preventing any charges including pre authorised ones from being processed. If I find a bill like this one, I freeze the card and ask for the charges to be removed explaining that nothing will be paid until they are and I make ready to leave. Thus far it has been effective on 100% of occasions.
Yes, I miss my Amex points but this gives me and not the hotel control of my bill.
Unfortunately, it look like this is a mandatory fee. You can tell from the GST. If there is sales tax on the fee, it is considered mandatory. If it is truly optional, they wouldn’t charge GST — and, believe me, business will do anything possible to avoid charging sales tax.
I would freeze the transaction until they removed it. Mandatory is only mandatory because they want it to be. These rip offs need to be called out.
Hey Matthew. You should try to get a comment from the hotel.
Hidden charges are nothing more than scams that should be legislated against.