WASHINGTON, DC— Marriott International is adding energy surcharges to guest folios at its hotels in cities around the U.S. The move comes in spite of pending class-action lawsuits in California over the use of surcharges to offset soaring energy costs. Energy surcharges will be initiated at Marriott properties in New York City; Baltimore; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Chicago; Boston; St. Louis; Denver; Seattle; Miami; Tampa; and several other cities. The surcharges range from $1.50 to $5, depending on the increase in energy costs in each city. New York City has the highest surcharge, at a rate of $5. “We don’t like charging anything extra,” said Marriott spokesperson Roger Conner. “We’re just trying to partially recoup and reset the huge energy cost increases.” It will join Starwood and Hilton Hotels, which have already expanded their energy surcharges. However, Hilton, Starwood, Marriott and Hyatt Corp. have each been slapped with lawsuits in California over the legality of adding energy surcharges without the complete consent and knowledge of its guests. Class-action suits were originally filed in San Francisco and Los Angeles in May claiming that guests were unaware of the surcharge when they agreed to, and initialed, the designated room rates. Communicating Costs While Conner said he “could not comment on pending litigation,” he did say that Marriott has always “communicated with guests at its hotels about the surcharge on their folios,” and that Marriott is now working to inform guests about the charge at the reservations point. Conner added that Marriott has created a “formula” to determine which cities/properties need surcharges. Pat Maher, senior vp/engineering for Marriott, said only hotels that have seen energy increases of 20% to 30% will be adding the surcharges. Marriott also began several new initiatives to reduce energy costs, one being a four-point energy plan. It includes monitoring property energy usage and energy rates and bills throughout the U.S. via Avista and raising energy awareness.
