Destination fee, facility fee, resort fee: one hotel charge

A resort fee, a destination fee, a facility fee and an amenity fee are the same kind of charge: a fixed amount per room, per night, that the hotel adds to every bill whether or not you use anything it is said to cover. The hotel sets it and collects it, and if it charges one, you cannot decline it.

The names differ because “resort” does not fit a hotel on a city street. So hotels reach for a word that points somewhere else: the city, the building, or the things the fee is said to buy. What is a resort fee covers the charge itself; this page is about the names.

Resort fee. Implies a resort: a pool, a gym, grounds.

Destination fee. Points outward, at the city, as though the fee were the price of being somewhere. It is the price of the room, moved.

Facility fee. Points at the building instead.

Amenity fee. Names the items rather than the place, and a long list of small items reads as value whichever of them you use.

Hotels we checked also use 21 names with none of the four words in them: “Urban Fee” (New York, Miami, Boston, Chicago), “Residence Fee” (New York), “Guest Experience Fee” (New York), “Daily Service Fee” (Orlando), “Hotel Fee” (Orlando, Washington), “Hospitality fee (ホスピタリティ料金)” (Honolulu), “Service Fee” (Miami), “Daily Mandatory Charge” (Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix), “LA Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance (CHMWO #188944) fee” (Los Angeles), “Urban Experience Fee” (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin), “Experience fee” (Nashville), “Marketing Fee” (Nashville), “G Life fee” (San Francisco), “Urban Retreat Fee” (Dallas, Seattle, Denver), “All-Access Pass” (Boston), “Mandatory charge” (Seattle, Chicago, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Washington), “Rise Experience Fee” (Phoenix), “Half Moon Pass” (San Diego), “Hotel Service Fee” (Fort Lauderdale, Sedona), “Hotel services fee” (South Lake Tahoe), “Historic Preservation Fee” (Washington). Whatever a hotel calls it, the test is the same, and it is in the last section of this page.

Some Hilton hotels use a name that says only that you must pay it: a “mandatory charge”. What their sentence says and what it costs are in what is the Hilton mandatory charge.

Counted from the hotels’ own websites, through 20 September 2026. A city we have not finished checking says so, rather than repeating what is usually said about it.

• “Resort” is in the name at 163 hotels: Las Vegas (28), New York (1), Orlando (13), Honolulu (18), Miami (3), Los Angeles (2), Nashville (1), Phoenix (4), Anaheim (1), San Diego (5), Palm Springs (12), Fort Lauderdale (10), Key West (13), Destin (2), Sedona (3), Scottsdale (11), Myrtle Beach (12), Miramar Beach (3), Reno (4), South Lake Tahoe (4), Atlantic City (6), Hilton Head Island (5), Santa Barbara (2).
• “Destination” is in the name at 114 hotels: New York (2), Honolulu (1), Miami (3), Los Angeles (11), New Orleans (13), Nashville (10), San Francisco (8), Dallas (4), Boston (11), Seattle (5), Atlanta (2), Chicago (7), Denver (8), Phoenix (2), Anaheim (1), San Diego (3), Fort Lauderdale (1), Sedona (2), Scottsdale (1), Savannah (4), Atlantic City (1), Charleston (3), Austin (4), San Antonio (2), Washington (5).
• “Facility” is in the name at 13 hotels: New York (5), Boston (4), Chicago (1), Scottsdale (1), South Lake Tahoe (1), Washington (1).
• “Amenity” is in the name at 117 hotels: Las Vegas (1), New York (1), Honolulu (14), Miami (1), Los Angeles (9), New Orleans (3), Nashville (3), San Francisco (9), Dallas (3), Boston (4), Seattle (9), Chicago (3), Denver (11), Phoenix (1), San Diego (5), Palm Springs (7), Fort Lauderdale (1), Key West (12), Savannah (4), Myrtle Beach (1), South Lake Tahoe (1), Charleston (4), Austin (5), Washington (4), Santa Barbara (1).

The names exactly as the hotels write them, with how many hotels use each:

• Las Vegas: of 40 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 28 state a fee, under these names: “Resort fee” (14), “Daily Resort Fee” (9), “Resort charge” (4), “Resort and/or amenity fee” (1). Las Vegas hotels, fee by fee
• New York: of 39 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 15 state a fee, under these names: “Facility fee” (4), “Urban Fee” (3), “Residence Fee” (2), “Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily Mandatory Destination Charge” (1), “Destination fee” (1), “Guest Experience Fee” (1), “Hotel Facilities Fee” (1), “Resort fee” (1). New York hotels, fee by fee
• Orlando: of 40 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 15 state a fee, under these names: “Resort fee” (8), “Resort charge” (3), “Resort service package fee” (2), “Daily Service Fee” (1), “Hotel Fee” (1). Orlando hotels, fee by fee
• Honolulu: of 40 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 31 state a fee, under these names: “Daily Resort Charge” (6), “Daily amenity fee” (5), “Amenity fee” (4), “Resort fee” (4), “Daily Resort Fee” (2), “Resort Amenity Fee” (2), “Resort Charge” (2), “Amenity charge” (1), “Daily Hotel Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily resort amenity fee” (1), “Destination fee” (1), “Hospitality fee (ホスピタリティ料金)” (1), “Resort fee (リゾートフィー)” (1). Honolulu hotels, fee by fee
• Miami: of 39 hotels checked through 16 September 2026, 9 state a fee, under these names: “Destination fee” (3), “Resort fee” (3), “Daily amenity fee” (1), “Service Fee” (1), “Urban fee” (1). Miami hotels, fee by fee
• Los Angeles: of 60 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 23 state a fee, under these names: “Destination fee” (6), “Destination Amenity Fee” (2), “Guest Amenities Fee” (2), “Resort Fee” (2), “Amenities fee” (1), “Amenity fee” (1), “Daily Destination Fee” (1), “Daily Mandatory Charge” (1), “Daily Mandatory Destination Charge” (1), “Destination Charge” (1), “Guest Amenity Fee” (1), “Hotel Amenity Fee” (1), “LA Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance (CHMWO #188944) fee” (1), “Urban Amenities Fee” (1), “Urban Experience Fee” (1). Los Angeles hotels, fee by fee
• New Orleans: of 59 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 14 state a fee, under these names: “Destination fee” (6), “Destination Charge” (4), “Destination Amenity Fee” (2), “Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily Destination Fee” (1). New Orleans hotels, fee by fee
• Nashville: of 60 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 15 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (5), “Daily Mandatory Destination Charge” (4), “Amenity fee” (2), “Daily destination amenity fee” (1), “Experience fee” (1), “Marketing Fee” (1), “Resort Fee” (1). Nashville hotels, fee by fee
• San Francisco: of 60 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 19 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (3), “Guest Amenities Fee” (3), “Urban Amenity Fee” (3), “Daily Amenity Fee” (2), “Daily Destination Fee” (2), “Amenity fee” (1), “Destination charge” (1), “G Life fee” (1), “Nob Hill Destination Fee” (1), “Urban Destination Fee” (1), “Urban Experience Fee” (1). San Francisco hotels, fee by fee
• Dallas: of 60 hotels checked through 17 September 2026, 9 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (4), “Amenity fee” (2), “Daily Mandatory Charge” (1), “Guest amenities fee” (1), “Urban Retreat Fee” (1). Dallas hotels, fee by fee
• Boston: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 20 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (6), “Facility fee” (3), “Destination Charge” (2), “Guest amenity fee” (2), “All-Access Pass” (1), “Daily Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily Mandatory Destination Charge” (1), “Destination Amenity Fee” (1), “Facilities Fee” (1), “Mandatory Destination Charge” (1), “Urban Fee” (1). Boston hotels, fee by fee
• Seattle: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 18 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (5), “Daily Amenity Fee” (4), “Amenity fee” (2), “Guest amenities fee” (2), “Mandatory charge” (2), “Daily Amenities Fee” (1), “Urban Experience Fee” (1), “Urban Retreat Fee” (1). Seattle hotels, fee by fee
• Atlanta: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 2 state a fee, under the name: “Destination fee” (2). Atlanta hotels, fee by fee
• Chicago: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 17 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Fee” (7), “Mandatory charge” (3), “Urban Fee” (3), “Daily amenity fee” (1), “Daily Urban Experience Fee (amenity fee)” (1), “Facility fee” (1), “Guest amenities fee” (1). Chicago hotels, fee by fee
• Denver: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 12 state a fee, under these names: “Destination Amenity Fee” (8), “Amenity fee” (1), “Denver Amenity Fee” (1), “Guest Amenities Fee” (1), “Urban Retreat Fee” (1). Denver hotels, fee by fee
• Phoenix: of 60 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 9 state a fee, under these names: “Resort Fee” (2), “Daily destination fee” (1), “Daily Mandatory Charge” (1), “Daily Resort Charge” (1), “Destination Fee” (1), “Guest amenities fee” (1), “Resort charge” (1), “Rise Experience Fee” (1). Phoenix hotels, fee by fee
• Anaheim: of 49 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 2 state a fee, under these names: “Destination fee” (1), “Resort Fee” (1). Anaheim hotels, fee by fee
• San Diego: of 58 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 16 state a fee, under these names: “Mandatory charge” (5), “Resort fee” (3), “Destination Amenity Fee” (2), “Amenity fee” (1), “Guest amenities fee” (1), “Half Moon Pass” (1), “Mandatory Destination Charge” (1), “Resort Amenities Fee” (1), “Resort experience fee” (1). San Diego hotels, fee by fee
• Palm Springs: of 59 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 17 state a fee, under these names: “Resort fee” (9), “Resort amenity fee” (2), “Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily Amenity Charge” (1), “Daily amenity fee” (1), “Daily Guest Amenity Fee” (1), “Guest amenities fee” (1), “Resort charge” (1). Palm Springs hotels, fee by fee
• Fort Lauderdale: of 56 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 13 state a fee, under these names: “Resort charge” (5), “Resort fee” (4), “Destination fee” (1), “Hotel Service Fee” (1), “Mandatory charge” (1), “Resort amenities fee” (1). Fort Lauderdale hotels, fee by fee
• Key West: of 58 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 23 state a fee, under these names: “Resort fee” (7), “Amenity fee” (5), “Guest Amenity Fee” (5), “Resort charge” (4), “Resort amenities fee” (2). Key West hotels, fee by fee
• Destin: of 22 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 2 state a fee, under the name: “Resort fee” (2). Destin hotels, fee by fee
• Sedona: of 46 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 8 state a fee, under these names: “Hotel Service Fee” (3), “Resort charge” (2), “Destination charge” (1), “Resort fee” (1), “Uptown Destination Fee” (1). Sedona hotels, fee by fee
• Scottsdale: of 42 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 12 state a fee, under these names: “Resort charge” (4), “Resort fee” (3), “Daily resort fee” (1), “Destination fee” (1), “Facilities Fee / Resort Fee” (1), “Resort Service Charge” (1), “Resort service fee” (1). Scottsdale hotels, fee by fee
• Savannah: of 40 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 5 state a fee, under these names: “Destination amenity fee” (3), “Amenity fee” (1), “Destination Fee” (1). Savannah hotels, fee by fee
• Myrtle Beach: of 52 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 13 state a fee, under these names: “Resort fee” (8), “Resort charge” (4), “Amenity Fee” (1). Myrtle Beach hotels, fee by fee
• Miramar Beach: of 20 hotels checked through 18 September 2026, 3 state a fee, under these names: “Resort charge” (2), “Resort fee” (1). Miramar Beach hotels, fee by fee
• Reno: of 41 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 4 state a fee, under these names: “Resort Fee” (3), “Resort Service Fee” (1). Reno hotels, fee by fee
• South Lake Tahoe: of 60 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 6 state a fee, under these names: “Resort Fee” (2), “Daily Resort Charge” (1), “Facility fee” (1), “Hotel services fee” (1), “Resort Amenities Fee” (1). South Lake Tahoe hotels, fee by fee
• Atlantic City: of 34 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 7 state a fee, under these names: “resort fee” (4), “Daily Resort Fee” (2), “Destination fee” (1). Atlantic City hotels, fee by fee
• Charleston: of 32 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 6 state a fee, under these names: “Amenity fee” (2), “Destination fee” (2), “Destination amenity fee” (1), “Hotel amenities fee” (1). Charleston hotels, fee by fee
• Austin: of 40 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 9 state a fee, under these names: “Amenity fee” (3), “Destination fee” (2), “Daily Destination Amenity Fee” (1), “Daily destination service charge” (1), “Guest Amenity Fee” (1), “Urban Experience Fee” (1). Austin hotels, fee by fee
• San Antonio: of 60 hotels checked through 19 September 2026, 5 state a fee, under these names: “Mandatory charge” (3), “Destination fee” (2). San Antonio hotels, fee by fee
• Hilton Head Island: of 38 hotels checked, 5 state a fee, under these names: “Resort charge” (2), “Resort Fee” (2), “Resort services charge” (1). Hilton Head Island hotels, fee by fee
• Washington: of 58 hotels checked, 16 state a fee, under these names: “Destination fee” (4), “Guest amenities fee” (2), “Historic Preservation Fee” (2), “Hotel fee” (2), “Mandatory charge” (2), “Amenity fee” (1), “Destination charge” (1), “Facility fee” (1), “Guest Amenity program” (1). Washington hotels, fee by fee
• Santa Barbara: of 52 hotels checked, 3 state a fee, under these names: “Guest amenities fee” (1), “Resort charge” (1), “Resort Fee” (1). Santa Barbara hotels, fee by fee

The fee is in the sentence under the rate, or on a page the small print links to. Three things to find in it.

The amount, and whether it is per night or per stay. Multiply a nightly fee by your nights before comparing it with anything.

Whether tax is added. “Plus tax” means the figure grows before it reaches your bill. Tax is a government charge, not a hidden one, but the fee on the page is not the fee you pay.

Who collects it. A fee “collected by the hotel” or “payable at check-in” is not in what the booking site charged your card, so one stay produces two charges. This site shows that fee on its own line, marked as collected at the desk.

Our city pages do this reading for the hotels we checked, with the page linked and the date recorded, and the calculator does the multiplication.

Is it mandatory, per night, and taxed? Mandatory is the part that decides it: a charge every room pays is part of the price of the room, whatever it is called. Per night tells you how to multiply, and taxed tells you what to add. A charge you can decline, or one for something you chose to use, is not a resort fee under any name.

The law asks the same question. The FTC’s fee rule (16 CFR Part 464, in force 12 May 2025) and New York City’s law (in force 21 February 2026) both turn on whether a fee is mandatory, not on what it is called. How we check a fee is the same question, written down as rules.