Resort and parking fees at MGM Resorts International, the largest casino operator on the Las Vegas Strip, will increase starting Wednesday.
Effective at 10 a.m. on December 4, the new fee schedules will apply to all of the company’s properties along the resort corridor.
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At Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the daily resort fee will rise by $5 to $55.
Meanwhile, guests at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Delano, Park MGM, Nomad, and The Signature will see their daily resort fees increase to $50, with a rise of $5 for the first three hotels and an $8 increase for the latter three.
For New York-New York, Luxor, and Excalibur, the resort fee will be set at $45. This will reflect a $3 hike for New York-New York and an $8 increase for Luxor and Excalibur.
MGM Resorts, located in Las Vegas, last raised its resort fees in January.
These fees cover unlimited local and long-distance phone calls, in-room Wi-Fi, and digital downloads of newspapers and magazines via PressReader.
It also includes access to the fitness center, services like Paramount+ with Showtime On Demand, and boarding pass printing.
The company states that their pricing strategy aligns with local and national market standards. They take into account the combined costs of amenities and services offered during a stay.
MGM also notes that fees may be updated as their offerings change and to remain competitive with other resorts in Las Vegas.
Parking Fees Increase
Additionally, parking fees will be increasing for certain visitor categories. Self-parking will now cost $20 from Monday to Thursday (previously $18) and $25 on weekends (Friday to Sunday, up from $23).
Hotel guests using self-parking will also see a rise, now paying $20 every day. This is a $2 increase from the current rate.
Valet parking rates for hotel guests and visitors will be set at $40 across all properties. Currently, these charges vary between $25 and $40, based on the specific property and the day of the week.
MGM Rewards members who hold pearl tier status or higher are eligible for complimentary self-parking. Those at the gold tier and above can enjoy free valet parking.
In addition, active United States military personnel, veterans, and their spouses can park for free through the MGM Rewards Military & Veterans Program (MVP).
Nevada locals presenting a valid identification card can continue to park for free for up to three hours at any MGM Resorts property.
Local Hotels collude with Travel Websites
Parking fees are charged for an actual service, whereas resort fees often disguise themselves as such.
Resorts justify resort fees as a “convenience fee” for various amenities—like Wi-Fi, gym access, and local phone calls. Guests prefer not to see these billed separately.
The true purpose of resort fees is to allow hotels to increase room rates while still appearing competitive on online travel platforms such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Booking.com.
These platforms cooperate with hotels by excluding resort fees from the daily rates displayed.
This strategy enables hotels to remain at the top of the search results for users looking for room options based on “best value” or “lowest price.”
Resort fees, similar to other unnecessary charges, usually become visible only at the end of the online booking process.
The Council of Economic Advisers estimates that surprise fees, including resort charges, cost Americans nearly $3.4 billion each year.
Lawmakers and oversight organizations are diligently exploring solutions to eliminate these unexpected fees.
In October 2023, the Biden administration issued guidance regarding potential legislation aimed at banning “junk fees,” with a specific focus on resort fees.
With just 39 days remaining in his presidency, Joe Biden has stated that his administration is committed to eliminating all junk fees from the travel sector.
Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed a measure to address hidden fees. This would put an end to drip pricing and junk fees in hotels, restaurants, and various other businesses.
However, if you’re looking for the complete casino experience, expect to see resort fees included in your bill.
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