Seattle hotel workers call out ‘Resort Fee Ripoff’

UNITE HERE Local 8 calls on Seattle hotels to end unfair and deceptive fees for guests

SEATTLE, WA (October 17, 2024) — At a rally in front of the Westin Seattle on Wednesday, UNITE HERE Local 8 announced submission of consumer complaints to the City of Seattle, asking the City Attorney to investigate resort fees at Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott hotels in Seattle. The union also launched SeattleResortFeeRipoff.org, a website that shines a light on these unpopular, unfair — and often misleading — resort fees.

Seattle hotel workers are fighting for higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, the reversal of COVID-era cuts, and respect. Workers at the Doubletree Seattle Airport and Seattle Airport Hilton & Conference Center have been on strike since October 13 over these key issues.

Hotel workers and supporters passing out leaflets to passersby outside the Westin in downtown Seattle on Wednesday. Photo: UNITE HERE Local 8

While workers’ wages remain low even as workloads have picked up, more and more hotel guests are being hit with these resort fees; the union sees hotels nickel-and-diming guests, increasing profits for the companies, but at the expense of both guests and workers.

That’s why UNITE HERE local 8 represented hotel workers are demanding that the companies respect guests who are sick of unfair and deceptive resort fees. Those fees have a direct impact on workers, too. Resort fees can result in lower tips and stressful interactions between workers and guests.

“As a front desk worker, it makes my job harder and less pleasant when I have to explain the resort fee to guests who don’t know about it or don’t want to pay it,” said Bella Scillitani, a Westin Front Desk Supervisor.

Seattle hotels like the Westin tack resort fees of upwards of $25 and $30 onto guest bills for services guests might not even want — or didn’t think they pay extra for. These fees can include internet access, or a credit for in-house food service. However, hotels like the Westin have also cut back restaurant hours, reducing the usefulness of such fees.

Muhammad Fareed, a Westin Server said, “They closed the restaurant 3 nights, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. This affects our hours, and we get less money.”

Hotels generate $3.3 billion from resort fees annually. Workers want hotels to put their focus back on providing the best possible hospitality.

“It’s troubling seeing the Westin and other hotels in Seattle go the way of airlines, tacking confusing charges to rooms rates to pad their profits, while guests get little to nothing in return,” said Anita Seth, UNITE HERE Local 8 President.