At this point it takes a lot to shock me with the petty mandatory add-on fees some hotels can charge. The Staybridge Suites Tulsa Woodland Hills manages this feat quite easily with a “service fee” that “assists to invest in upgrades and initiatives for guest security.” There’s a mandatory safety fee, because apparently you aren’t assured a safe room as part of your rate at this property.
Credit: Staybridge Suites Tulsa Woodland Hills
Here they show the room rate ‘+$5 fees’:
It’s an extra $4.99 mandatory scam fee, of course, it doesn’t actually go into a segregated account that funds initiatives for guest security that wouldn’t otherwise be undertaken. And of course they could just… include it in the room rate, since you have to pay it to spend a night in a room there. They just prefer not to pay commission on that part of the rate to booking agencies, and they likely prefer to make the hotel appear cheaper than it really is when you’re comparing costs.
Here’s the description of the fees:
I have two reactions here, aside from the sheer audacity of charging an add-on fee separate from the room rate to cover the hotel’s security expenses.
- This comes off akin to an organized crime protection racket, mobsters demanding payoffs from store owners to protect the store from… the mobsters. You must pay this hotel extra to protect you from crime. Or else. Or else… what, exactly, are they threatening here?
- A hotel charging separately and extra for security takes on added liability for guest security. They may not find the revenue worth it in the end.
Credit: Staybridge Suites Tulsa Woodland Hills
What are they doing that’s above and beyond ordinary care here? They never say. I’d add that while Marriotts, Hiltons, and Hyatts – as well as unaffiliated hotels – charge their share of egregious fees, it sure seems that low-end IHG properties push the envelope furthest and most often. IHG is known for exercising relatively little control over their franchisees.
This sounds like a serious legal mistake on their part. So, you pay that fee and something happens to you anyway? That sounds like lawyer bait.
How about if I come armed and tell them I don’t need to pay the fee? After all, it is Oklahoma.
Nice luggage you got there. Be a shame if something. . . happened to it.
Talk about organized crime, look at the taxes that are added. As for the security fee, a lot of people pay for security. It is better than paying a pool fee for a pool that is closed or even getting a room that includes use of the pool and finding out that the pool is closed for winter when you get there.
Right out of Tulsa King (if you watched the show you’ll know). Avoid this hotel. A better question: what on earth is in Tulsa that anyone would want to go there?
Gary, you obviously haven’t watched “Tulsa King” with Sly Stallone! In Tulsa everyone pays a little extra.
I’m with @Retired Lawyer. I can take care of my own security thank you very much.
we’re ‘across the Border’, but the lesson is nationwide: current Texas Bar Journal has an ad bragging about a $6MILLION++ verdict for ‘premises liability.” As noted, if you lead customers to believe they’re getting ‘enhanced security’, that $4.99 dog can turn around and hurt you real hard!
The FTC rules on these fees took effect on May. 12th. The hotel has to disclose the fee UP FRONT and if it is not actual government mandated fees, they have to PROVE that this fee is actually used for what purpose it is stated. Refuse to pay and turn the hotel over to the FTC.
oops… AND dispute the fee with the credit card company, tell the hotel that you will rate them with one star on TripAdvisor, Yelp, corporate web site, etc. along with the picture of the receipt, etc. One reason I will not stay in any Best Western is that the hotel had the chutzpah to charge me for the in-room safe. I didn’t use it. Besides, the $5.00 fee was on a plaque that was hidden from plain view. Complaining to Best Western, like IHG, accomplished nothing. “We can’t control what our franchisee does…” BULL CRAP you can’t!
The fee is for investment in (future) security upgrades and initiatives. There’s no claim that this fee will benefit current guests. These costs should be charged to the hotel’s budget for maintenance and improvement investments.
Other hotel junk fees at least pretend to benefit the guest (AC, safety deposit box, free bike rental, free shoeshine, coffee in room, etc.).
Thank you, Gary, for continuing to name-and-shame locations that try ti pull this nonsense. Transparency and accountability are the only way we don’t see this stuff proliferating. Keep up the good work!
So the Renaissance Tulsa, that is a mile from this, charges $15 for parking. I look at the front desk guy and ask “this is a big empty lot and we are beside two other empty lots in the mall that is partially attached and beside this hotel”. He responded that it basically paid for the security that drove around the lot looking to ensure that everyone’s car is safe.
For sure an Indian owned Patel property. They will cut every corner and charge every fee they can get away with. I’m sick of it.
yeeeeah, I’ll pass on the security fee.. my body guards Smith&Wesson are with me. If anything you’ll need to charge a forensic clean up fee.
Thank you, Gary, for informing us about the extreme crime rates at the Staybridge Suites in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Woodland Hills. To help reduce the risk of guests being mugged or murdered, this IHG hotel charges an additional $4.99 per person, per night for added security protection.
I wonder if Staybridge Suites guests will earn a “safety first” discount when they pack their protection, such as a gun, during check-in. Hopefully, the small vending area of the Staybridge Suites Tulsa, Oklahoma, Woodland Hills offers basic amenities such as high-caliber ammunition and Mace® Brand pepper sprays, which you can purchase at the front desk to earn valuable IHG One Rewards points.