When travel reporter Zach Griff checked into The Pell, a JDV by Hyatt property in Rhode Island, he expected a relaxing stay with his wife and 9-month-old daughter. Unfortunately, he left on a sour note after the hotel charged him a $500 smoking fee following his stay.
The problem? Griff says he’s never smoked a day in his life, let alone in a hotel room while staying there with his family.
Griff, a senior reporter at The Points Guy, took his story public on social media after the hotel allegedly charged him the $500 fee based on readings from an air quality sensor. The sensor data was supplied by a third-party company called Rest, which claims hotels can easily collect fees from smoking events.
I’m not sure what’s confusing here. You pay exactly the price you see on the menu.
(Plus ~10% tax based on which state and town/city you’re in. Plus ~15-20% tip. Plus sometimes a mantatory “gratuity” or whatever they’re calling it. Plus parking sometimes, unless you remember to validate it if the place supports that. Look it’s a lot of random things and even I can’t keep track of it anymore.)
Wireless card readers are relatively new tech. I see them more and more as time goes on. New places usually give their waitstaff mobile readers, but there’s little motivation for older restaurants to upgrade their whole POS systems. POS systems have pretty long life expectancy. At least the older ones do.
Why did he pay? Or does the hotel have access to his card and can charge whatever they wish at will?
Of course they do. He had to use it to pay for his stay. Hotels don’t take cash.
Isn’t that how the US does it?
You give your credit card and they charge whatever they want. Always found that very weird in the US.
It’s supposed to be in case you destroy property.
A lot of things are weird in the US
Restaurants are weird in the US too - why do you need to take my credit card to another room?
Also weird that the restaurant pays the staff the absolute bare minimum and you need to supplement their income based on how much you order.
I’m not sure what’s confusing here. You pay exactly the price you see on the menu.
(Plus ~10% tax based on which state and town/city you’re in. Plus ~15-20% tip. Plus sometimes a mantatory “gratuity” or whatever they’re calling it. Plus parking sometimes, unless you remember to validate it if the place supports that. Look it’s a lot of random things and even I can’t keep track of it anymore.)
Wireless card readers are relatively new tech. I see them more and more as time goes on. New places usually give their waitstaff mobile readers, but there’s little motivation for older restaurants to upgrade their whole POS systems. POS systems have pretty long life expectancy. At least the older ones do.