Priceline, Marriott sued for not disclosing resort fees
A class action lawsuit has been filed against online travel agent Priceline and Marriott ‘arising from the unfair and unconscionable assessment and collection of resort fees.’
Hawaii resident Kathleen Soule has filed the complaint after a stay at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii in 2011.
She had booked through Priceline and alleges the OTA knew of the mandatory resort fee but did not disclose it.
Soule said she was charged a $30 resort fee per night when checking out.
The lawsuit names Marriott but also applies to anyone charged a resort fee at any Hawaii hotel after making a reservation on Priceline.com since 2010.
"The use of deceptive pricing practices like resort fees harm consumers and harm competitors, and harm Hawaii’s important tourism industry," the lawsuit said.
Similar action has been attempted before and failed but the plaintiff’s lawyer Brandee J.K. Faria said this time it could be different due to Hawaii’s more stringent pro-consumer laws.
Due to intense competition online, "Hotels and third-party booking websites have a huge incentive to post base rates that are as low as possible. Because the ‘resort fees’ are mandatory, there was no reason to omit them from the base room rate, other than to deceive consumers," the lawsuit continued.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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