Resort Fee

[Tallyho]

I know there is something of an explanation on the daily "resort fee" added to each night at Zermatt when one receives their CCR registration but I wondered if someone in the know might clarify why this charge is necessary on top of the CCR registration and room rates. I have no complaint whatsoever on paying the additional amount especially when it covers two people. However, several first time CCR people I know have asked about it and wonder why this charge, since it is not optional, is not simply included in the room rate. Please, detail what it covers and why it needs to be a separate line item. I think it surprised a few people. A response versus a link would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[NCoe]

At Zermatt the resort fee covers wireless Internet access, Starbucks coffee in the room, the free use of the 'wellness center' and daily paper to name a few. Their reservation system is such that it could not be waived. To compensate the room rates were lowered. I hope this answers your question satisfactorily.

I know there is something of an explanation on the daily "resort fee" added to each night at Zermatt when one receives their CCR registration but I wondered if someone in the know might clarify why this charge is necessary on top of the CCR registration and room rates. I have no complaint whatsoever on paying the additional amount especially when it covers two people. However, several first time CCR people I know have asked about it and wonder why this charge, since it is not optional, is not simply included in the room rate. Please, detail what it covers and why it needs to be a separate line item. I think it surprised a few people. A response versus a link would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Randy]

I know there is something of an explanation on the daily "resort fee" added to each night at Zermatt when one receives their CCR registration but I wondered if someone in the know might clarify why this charge is necessary on top of the CCR registration and room rates. I have no complaint whatsoever on paying the additional amount especially when it covers two people. However, several first time CCR people I know have asked about it and wonder why this charge, since it is not optional, is not simply included in the room rate. Please, detail what it covers and why it needs to be a separate line item. I think it surprised a few people. A response versus a link would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!Let me amplify what Nate said.

Here in Colorado we have become quite accustomed to the concept of a resort fee. That doesn't make me like it, but I am accustomed to it. There was a resort fee added to our rooms in Breckenridge for the 2004 Reunion, but few noticed it. It was a percentage of the room rate and was added at checkout. Zermatt is a little more 'in your face' about it by adding it as a flat amount per night and collecting it as part of your reservation deposit. Virtually every hotel room in Colorado ski towns adds a resort fee or some other means of generating additional revenue for their hotel rooms.

As Nate said the 'Resort Fee' covers the use of their (very good) 'wellness center' or exercise room, free wireless Internet throughout the complex and Starbucks coffee in every room. If you stay at a Comfort Inn you get wireless and coffee as part of your room rate. This resort fee has become much like the D&H fee charged at automobile (and motorcycle) dealerships here in Colorado. Dealers will not negotiate on their D&H fee, and the resorts will not negotiate on their resort fee. Paying $289 for the privilege of purchasing a new automobile is outrageous, but is common practice here in Colorado. I understand it has become quite common in most states now.

In our contract negotiations Zermatt agreed to reduce the fee in our original contract from $15 to $10 and to reduce the rooms to $129 from $139 effectively giving us the same $139 rate we started with. When it came time to do a dry run of their reservation system even they didn't realize how tenaciously the very upper management controls that fee and were surprised that there was no way to program in a reduction for our group. So we got them to move another $5 on the room rate, effectively keeping the $139 per night rate that we had originally agreed to. This is a very new and upscale resort and even at $139 per night we are getting a very good value for this caliber of service. Personally, I hate fees added to any agreed upon charge, but it has become more and more common. We pay fuel adjustment fees on our electric bill, service fees for our sporting tickets, recycling fees on my new tires and I cannot even begin to enumerate all of the added fees on a cellular phone bill. It would be nice if we could go back to a price for a product, but companies (and governments) count on hidden taxes and additional fees to generate revenue. If they didn't add the fees the prices of the goods or services would rise to compensate.

While the $15 fee charged by the resort galls me just as it does many of you, the reality is that $139 per night for a resort hotel room is competitive and in the bigger scheme of things still remains a very small portion of my vacation budget. I will find myself paying more to board my dog for two days than the entire cumulative resort fee for my stay at Zermatt.

My suggestion is to decide whether $139 per night for this hotel and for this event falls within your personal budget and to decide accordingly. I won't spend too much time analyzing how they collect the $139, just whether I am willing to pay it. Considering how much I paid for some Best Western nights in Canada this summer, $139 is an absolute bargain. Oh, and don't look at your bill too closely when you leave, because the lodging tax (always higher than sales tax) will take another big bite out of your wallet.

I hope this explanation helped and I certainly do not want to give the impression that I feel the fee is fair or correct, but I am pragmatic by nature and tend not to get caught up in the amount of slight of hand practiced on a daily basis in modern commerce.

[AlaskaFish]

Listed in the latest edition of MOA: Holiday Inn Express for $169 a night. That makes this resort look almost cheap in comparison. And Zermatt is a brand new Resort to boot! And, it's CCR!!!

Nuff said. We just budget every year cause we know we want to go if time permits.

John

[pkpr1998]

So, has anybody figured out how much that $ 139/night room with ALL of the taxes, fees, more taxes and more fees total will cost? :bike:

[jzeiler]

My five nights are costing $778.70 or about $155 a night including all taxes, add ons, tariffis, and fees. Small price to pay to be with 600 of my best friends (well 598 if you exclude Ken and Joe):histerica .

[Tallyho]

Thanks Nate and Randy for your clarifications for all to see. My point as originally stated was never the value proposition of CCR and it always amazes me how topics get side-tracked by the perception of injustice or criticism. No justification of CCR is necessary. For CCR 2005 I booked one of only four rooms with a king size bed plus patio, kitchenette, and a direct, unobstructed view of the Teton Range at the Grand Teton Lodge at a base rate of $259 per night. Nearly $300 per night when we checked out. My club tours exclusively with motels, hotels, and resorts. $139-$169 is par for the course just about anywhere even at your local Holiday Inn Express if you happen to ride to popular and picturesque destinations. (Yeah, the HIX in Winslow, AZ was only $79. Either pay it or go stand on the corner..) The rates for Zermatt are exceptional and the committee should be congratulated on securing a top drawer facility not only with low single room rates but also so many other upscale or sharable options in a superb location.

Many folks new to CCR or perhaps "resort" pricing need a little help getting over the rationale for the extra charges. Many will not use any of the services listed but will still have to pay the fee. I don't want them to think it's something new or contrived that might keep them from attending one of the premier BMW rallies in the country.

[howles]

This comment should be filed under the heading of, I'm not complaining but...

I made my reservations on January 1, same day I registered for this year's CCR. Was told by the reservations assistant at the time that the resort fee is now $20 and she had no way to input into the system the $15 fee I was expecting. She suggested I call back later to see if anything could be done about it.

I called today and was told by another operator that the $20 per day fee has been in place for a few months now and is the standard fee which all resort guests pay, even those who may have reserved a room prior to the increase going into effect.

I don't want to raise any alarm unnecessarily but wonder if this potential misunderstanding could be headed off at the pass. It may be that staff at the reservations call center are unaware of our group rate.

-R
2000K1200LT
Champagne, of course

[NCoe]

I will look into this on Monday.

This comment should be filed under the heading of, I'm not complaining but...

I made my reservations on January 1, same day I registered for this year's CCR. Was told by the reservations assistant at the time that the resort fee is now $20 and she had no way to input into the system the $15 fee I was expecting. She suggested I call back later to see if anything could be done about it.

I called today and was told by another operator that the $20 per day fee has been in place for a few months now and is the standard fee which all resort guests pay, even those who may have reserved a room prior to the increase going into effect.

I don't want to raise any alarm unnecessarily but wonder if this potential misunderstanding could be headed off at the pass. It may be that staff at the reservations call center are unaware of our group rate.

-R
2000K1200LT
Champagne, of course

[NCoe]

I spoke with our contact at Zermatt. I have been assured that while the resort fee has gone to $20.00 for those who are not part of our group, the resort fee for us is $15.00. Please contact the resort again and see if they will take care of it. If not please let me know and I will give the specifics to our contact to deal with.

If anyone else has this problem please let me know ASAP so we can take care of it.

This comment should be filed under the heading of, I'm not complaining but...

I made my reservations on January 1, same day I registered for this year's CCR. Was told by the reservations assistant at the time that the resort fee is now $20 and she had no way to input into the system the $15 fee I was expecting. She suggested I call back later to see if anything could be done about it.

I called today and was told by another operator that the $20 per day fee has been in place for a few months now and is the standard fee which all resort guests pay, even those who may have reserved a room prior to the increase going into effect.

I don't want to raise any alarm unnecessarily but wonder if this potential misunderstanding could be headed off at the pass. It may be that staff at the reservations call center are unaware of our group rate.

-R
2000K1200LT
Champagne, of course

[joevano]

Made my reservation today and it was $15, no problem!

[Tallyho]

I made my reservation on Jan 1st using the online system. It defaulted to the $15 per day resort fee. I then went on a New Years Day ride. When I came home I called them to confirm the reservation. They had to transfer to me someone other than the regular reservation people that answered the phone when I said it was for CCR and for August to confirm my reservation was in the system. Perhaps it is significant to mention this when using their phone reservation system. After confirming my reservation I asked a few questions about the rooms and then if the operator had ever been in them. She said she had never been to the Zermatt Resort. I know it's not unique in this day and age but something to keep in mind. You're dealing with a hotel reservation call center that handles multiple properties. The online reservation system seemed trustworthy but I would still call and back it up. :o

[STYLNLT]

After making my reservations, and calling back a few days later to follow-up, I had called later in the evening, to which you get sent to a different reservation group (in a matter of speaking) who didn't have knowledge of the CCR Event.

I called back the next morning to which I was connected with the in-house reservation group who has all the info on the CCR Event and additional details/info.

So if possible, call during daytime hours to get any questions resolved regarding CCR.