Marriott Reaches Settlement with Pennsylvania over Failure to Disclose ‘Hidden’ Resort Fees, Agrees to Pay $225K

The attorney general of Pennsylvania, Michelle Henry, announced that hotel chain Marriott would pay $225,000 for failing to comply with a settlement requiring the disclosure of “hidden” resort fees to consumers.

The settlement, which was reached in 2021, required Marriott to explicitly list any obligatory fees at every step of the booking process. However, the attorney general’s office accused Marriott of employing “drip pricing,” where fees are not revealed in the total price until the final steps or check-in, and claimed that Marriott had breached the settlement after failing to meet a February deadline. A court order now requires Marriott to comply with the settlement by May 15.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has announced that Marriott has been ordered to ensure complete transparency regarding mandatory fees such as resort fees for customers who book hotels. Marriott has failed to comply with the settlement, and as a result, it will pay $225,000 for its inability to bring its disclosures into compliance.

In a news release, Henry said, “What we asked of Marriott, and what the settlement demands, is simple: be up front with consumers and do not hide fees for hotel stays. I am thankful that Marriott has agreed to comply with the terms of settlement agreement without the need for litigation.”