OFFICIAL 2023 Gathering Location -- Utah! February 25th - March 4th

[TheArchitect]

FYI, I called GMD and they won't be setting rates until the beginning of June. They don't have an official wait list but you can email your info to them and they'll contact you in June with rates. I asked for a ballpark of the rates for a Classic Room for me and my son and it's expected to be around $535/night.

 

[James]

I asked for a ballpark of the rates for a Classic Room for me and my son and it's expected to be around $535/night.

I assume that’s before the 13.8% lodging tax. Does GMD charge 15% service charge also?
Here’s what I got for Alta Lodge-
——————
19. What are the winter lodging service charge and taxes?

A 15% service charge is added to all winter lodging rates and dining room charges. Tipping is not expected in the Lodge.

Sales taxes in Alta are: Lodging: 13.82% · Dining Room and Bar: 9.75% · Retail: 8.75% (effective April 1, 2019)

Please note that the 15% service charge on dining and lodging is taxed at the tax rate applicable to the dining or lodging (as required by Utah law).
———————-

FAQs | Alta Lodge | Utah Ski Hotels & Vacation Lodging

www.altalodge.com

 

[TheArchitect]

I assume that’s before the 13.8% lodging tax. Does GMD charge 15% service charge also?
Here’s what I got for Alta Lodge-
——————
19. What are the winter lodging service charge and taxes?

A 15% service charge is added to all winter lodging rates and dining room charges. Tipping is not expected in the Lodge.

Sales taxes in Alta are: Lodging: 13.82% · Dining Room and Bar: 9.75% · Retail: 8.75% (effective April 1, 2019)

Please note that the 15% service charge on dining and lodging is taxed at the tax rate applicable to the dining or lodging (as required by Utah law).
———————-

FAQs | Alta Lodge | Utah Ski Hotels & Vacation Lodging

www.altalodge.com

Yes, I forgot to mention that he said it was before taxes. I don't know if they have a service charge but I'll see if I can find the receipt from the last time I stayed there.

 

[Turoa Kiwi]

FYI, I called GMD and they won't be setting rates until the beginning of June. They don't have an official wait list but you can email your info to them and they'll contact you in June with rates. I asked for a ballpark of the rates for a Classic Room for me and my son and it's expected to be around $535/night.

So $535 plus 15 % service charge is $80
Plus 13.8 % lodging tax is $73
So more like $723 a night then ?
I guess I won't staying there then

I just don't get why they advertise $535 when its no where near the realistic cost?
If these costs are unavoidable, why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

 

[TheArchitect]

So $535 plus 15 % service charge is $80
Plus 13.8 % lodging tax is $73
So more like $723 a night then ?
I guess I won't staying there then

I just don't get why they advertise $535 when its no where near the realistic cost?
If these costs are unavoidable, why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

I just found my receipt from 2017. There was no service charge; only taxes. I have no idea if that's true for the 2023 season. Maybe someone who stayed there this season can confirm if there's a service charge.

In 2017 I paid $322/night for a Large Bedroom Slope King for one person. I suspect that room is more expensive now but how much I don't know.

The approx. $535 I was told today was for 2 people in a Classic Room (the largest standard room). If it's only one person then I would think the rate is going to be lower because it includes both breakfast and dinner for each occupant. It doesn't change the fact that it's expensive but at least you only have to pay for lunch each day which helps with the overall trip cost.

 

[dbostedo]

...why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

Marketing. If they do that and others don't they appear to be a lot more expensive. And since we're kind of used to the advertised price not being the final price (in the US), no one gets upset about it enough to effect a change.

 

[Tony S]

So $535 plus 15 % service charge is $80
Plus 13.8 % lodging tax is $73
So more like $723 a night then ?
I guess I won't staying there then

I just don't get why they advertise $535 when its no where near the realistic cost?
If these costs are unavoidable, why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

Because businesses don't publish information to help the consumer; they publish information to make sales. It's that simple. If I advertise the all-in price, my competitor next door will surely not.

Edit: crossed posts

 

[Wasatchman]

So $535 plus 15 % service charge is $80
Plus 13.8 % lodging tax is $73
So more like $723 a night then ?
I guess I won't staying there then

I just don't get why they advertise $535 when its no where near the realistic cost?
If these costs are unavoidable, why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

The price of most US goods and services do not include sales/lodging tax. I do find add-on "resort fees" or "service charges" annoying as this is by no means consistent or typically present.

 

[James]

Like parking in Manhattan Basically add 20% to estimate the 18% parking tax.

Remember when airline tickets didn’t include the fees? Landing fee, security fee, blah blah, blah. Then the old phone bills with a whole page of add on fees, some of which involved words that didn’t go together.

 

[Turoa Kiwi]

I just found my receipt from 2017. There was no service charge; only taxes. I have no idea if that's true for the 2023 season. Maybe someone who stayed there this season can confirm if there's a service charge.

In 2017 I paid $322/night for a Large Bedroom Slope King for one person. I suspect that room is more expensive now but how much I don't know.

The approx. $535 I was told today was for 2 people in a Classic Room (the largest standard room). If it's only one person then I would think the rate is going to be lower because it includes both breakfast and dinner for each occupant. It doesn't change the fact that it's expensive but at least you only have to pay for lunch each day which offsets the overall trip cost.

That takes a (tiny) bit of the sting out of the price. Unfortunately it is still way out of my budget.

 

[Turoa Kiwi]

Because businesses don't publish information to help the consumer; they publish information to make sales. It's that simple. If I advertise the all-in price, my competitor next door will surely not.

Edit: crossed posts

God bless America

 

[John Webb]

The price of most US goods and services do not include sales/lodging tax. I do find add-on "resort fees" or "service charges" annoying as this is by no means consistent or typically present.

Casino's in Reno and Las Vegas have been adding "resort fees" for years. I find them particularly annoying. Our ski club would stay at the Peppermill in Reno (skiing Tahoe) for many years. I wont stay there now as they now add a hidden fee of $35 or $50 PER DAY to the room. Sadly this practice is spreading to high end lodging in resort areas.

 

[Jerez]

Sometimes those resort fees are imposed by the county or municipality, like a lodging or tourist tax, to cover the use of infrastructure that visitor heavy resort towns provide. Still annoying if it isn't clear upfront.

 

[Wasatchman]

Sometimes those resort fees are imposed by the county or municipality, like a lodging or tourist tax, to cover the use of infrastructure that visitor heavy resort towns provide. Still annoying if it isn't clear upfront.

I wasn't aware that it is mandatory in some counties or municipalities as they typically just impose a room tax that is typically higher than sales tax for that kind of thing.

I looked it up and resort fees are not mandatory in Las Vegas where many hotels seem to be implementing this measure.

 

[Jerez]

Ah. Then double booo.

 

[Jerez]

Perhaps I was mixing up a resort fee with a tourist tax fee. I used to sit on a citizen board that allocated tourist tax dollars in a place that shall remain nameless. All the tourist related industries like hotels in certain areas were obligated to collect it. These areas had to provide services for which they had little residential tax base. Police, healthcare, utility infrastructure etc.

My DH tells me that a "resort" fee is usually imposed on guests for use of resort facilities like golf courses or tennis courts etc.

Seems cheeky to charge separately unless you can opt out of using those things.

 

[locknload]

So $535 plus 15 % service charge is $80
Plus 13.8 % lodging tax is $73
So more like $723 a night then ?
I guess I won't staying there then

I just don't get why they advertise $535 when its no where near the realistic cost?
If these costs are unavoidable, why not just put up $723 and say all fees included?

Dang...this is ridiculous.

 

[Crank]

An old boss used to like to stay at high -end hotels like 4-seasons, etc. Seemed like all the priciest places charged extra for everything... like an extra $12.00 for each time you used their gym and this was 25 years ago.

 

[James]

Well 20 yrs ago we stayed here in Sandy for the ESA at Brighton. Has basic kitchen to cook.
Looks like $90/night with taxes.

https://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/UT/salt-lake-city/sandy

 

[Crank]

So you could likely stay at a nice place in Sandy and hire a chauffeur to drive you to the hill for less than sharing a room at GMD?