Nice try. or not.

[BroSCFischer]

I had a guest check out this morning. When I handed him his receipt he said that he "had specifically asked if the rate was tax included" and was told yes. I told him that the rate was plus tax.

He made a vague complaint about the room, complained that he had stayed here "about a year ago" and paid <rate ~$20 less>, and he wasn't going to stay with us again.

To be honest, I smelled BS about the initial "tax included" complaint, but since the clerk was brand new to the Front Desk, I decided to relate the tale to GM when he came in in the morning, just in case. GM knew EXACTLY who I was talking about, and said he was lying (he was there when SC was checked in).

Some quick points:

#1. I don't know of ANY hotel that quotes their rate tax included. If you ask me, I'll find out what the total is (or, sometimes, I know it already, if the rate is common enough).
#2. Our rates CHANGE based on availability. So does EVERY OTHER HOTEL in the area.

SC

[Catwoman2965]

And I know since many states/cities have special hotel taxes, I try and find out what that rate is, so I can figure out myself how much the room will cost. Or I ask, what will the TOTAL cost with tax be, based on teh rate I'm quoted.

[Desk clerk knows all]

We are near the Canadian border so we get a lot of Canadian guest. I can't tell you how many times I've quoted a rate and they will say "is that Canadian?" I'm a US company why would I quote a rate in a foreign currency?

[mhkohne]

#1. I don't know of ANY hotel that quotes their rate tax included.

In some localities it's actually illegal to do things on a tax-included basis (Maryland was for sales tax last time I looked). The tax folk want to make sure the retailers aren't pulling a fast one by telling the customer one thing, but the tax guys a different story.

[bhskittykatt]

In some localities it's actually illegal to do things on a tax-included basis (Maryland was for sales tax last time I looked). The tax folk want to make sure the retailers aren't pulling a fast one by telling the customer one thing, but the tax guys a different story.

Heh. I know a hotel nearby that at least used to do that. They were charging guests 11% tax, even though our rate was only 10.4% at the time. They would get mad at us if we referred guests there and told them "they are $XX plus 10.4% tax". They told us not to give them the tax rate, though I always did before I sent people there. (Unfortunately, there are few other places on our strip maintained well enough where I feel comfortable sending guests.)

I will often give guests the rate plus tax, and then the total if the arrival is in the near future. If it's several months in advance, though, I can't, since the tax rates periodically change.

[Skarredmind]

#1. I don't know of ANY hotel that quotes their rate tax included. If you ask me, I'll find out what the total is (or, sometimes, I know it already, if the rate is common enough).

::Travel Agent hat on::

Most don't specifically because including tax makes their rate seem higher than the competition's. Also the hotel doesn't CHARGE tax, the government does, we just collect it for them.

I've got the "What do you mean there is tax?!?!?!" thing a number of times. Then I've always had to explain, "The State of Pennsylvania charges X% tax. unfortunately, if you have issues, your local legislator is the one to chat with, I've got nothing to do with it."

#2. Our rates CHANGE based on availability. So does EVERY OTHER HOTEL in the area.

Coughworldcough.