Resort Fees and the Strip? Here in 2-3 years?

Now that MGM has added resort fees to all their properties aside from Aria and Bellagio - what do you think will happen in the future regarding these fees that most of us love to hate?

Steve Wynn stated that his newly added resort fee was due to "extensive customer feedback" - is this his own feedback that the clientele that stays at Encore is not up to par with his own standards? I can't remember the exact quote, but with the recession, I believe Wynn said something to that effect.

I wish they would just state the price as what the total cost is, rather than separating it out, but I believe the casinos don't have to pay tax on the fees, which is why they are adding them?

-B

Do the resort fees show up when you're comparing prices on Expedia and Travelocity? I would've figured that these are the "loophole" that allows them to advertise one price on-line for comparison shoppers, then charge an inflated price when you show up. Just like the baggage fees on the airlines.

I think on Expedia the resort fee is listed or noted in the hotel or room description.

I wonder what customer survey comes out with a high result for "I want to be charged more for my room."

If Las Vegas is trying to give people another reason to visit casinos in other places, the resort fee is probably the best way to do that.
I took a freebie trip to Harrah's Crystal Palace in Nassau, Bahamas, only to find out everyone has to pay a $12/day resort fee. It is everyone too, even the whales have to pay the fee. Some 'law' about proving you have funds to gamble by showing you can afford the resort fee. Yeah, right. This fee is the primary reason why I have not gone back, and it is only a 1.5 hour flight for me.
If all Vegas casinos start adding a resort fee, it will be so long Vegas for me as well

Honestly? I don't have as big of a problem with resort fees as everyone else here. Providing me a room for $30-50 then tacking on $15 isn't so bad... but I really would wish that if the $15 resort fee becomes the norm then "free" internet does also.

People could really learn from the McDonald's model... has anyone else here noticed that when McDonald's raises prices or takes away a great deal they always have like 3-4 weeks of an absolutely amazing deal? Like they basically destroyed the dollar menu in exchange for a month or two of really really cheap McNuggets and $1.50 Big Macs. If Vegas added a resort fee in exchange for internet and something else then yank it away a year later less people would notice. Instead, they basically threw an extra charge for everyone with absolutely nothing added.

For many people its not the fee as much as the deception and aura of bait and switch that is involved.

Frankly if a room is quoted at X dollars and then at check out you find part of it was a room rate and part of it was a general fee, you would not object since you are still paying the X that you were quoted and don't really care what the hotel allocates to the taxable room-rate or the non-taxable resort fee.

Most people don't like fees, Harrahs is boldly bleating about 'no fees' and I think Steve Wynn hates fees too, its just that he needs the money!! Dipping into his dealer's tip funds have not helped him as much as he thought it would.

Resort fees are taxed at the same rate as rooms. Hotels don't include them in the room rate simply because it makes their rates look cheaper, and if one hotel quotes them separately, all hotels are going to quote them separately.

People don't like resort fees because the hotels say that they cover a bundle of services, like internet access, gym access, newspapers, etc. and therefore potentially represent a discount, to which guests obviously say: Don't force me to buy a bundle of services I don't want to use.

Quote: FleaStiff

For many people its not the fee as much as the deception and aura of bait and switch that is involved.

Frankly if a room is quoted at X dollars and then at check out you find part of it was a room rate and part of it was a general fee, you would not object since you are still paying the X that you were quoted and don't really care what the hotel allocates to the taxable room-rate or the non-taxable resort fee.

Most people don't like fees, Harrahs is boldly bleating about 'no fees' and I think Steve Wynn hates fees too, its just that he needs the money!! Dipping into his dealer's tip funds have not helped him as much as he thought it would.

Exactly right. I've noticed that Travelocity and other sites are noting the fees in the room descriptions, although its often in small print. I know now to look out for them, but I'm sure a ton of people don't. Just another reason to avoid the strip and stay downtown.