What exactly is going on with MGM Grand?

No sooner were we relieved that it had caved to public opinion/common sense and ditched its $20 fee for guaranteeing you a non-smoking room, than we realized they’d done something even more ridonkulous.

Yes, they did, as they promised, take down the $20 non-smoking charge off their website.

But instead, yesterday they replaced it with a $20 charge for a smoking room.

Oh yeah. Last night, the reservations page of MGM Grand had replaced the $20 non-smoking fee with a $20 fee to guarantee a smoking room. Here’s the proof, with screenshots and everything. ]]> juliab 2011-02-18T14:21:32-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/2/17/85029/6630 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/4912/SmokingFee.jpg" class="top"></p> <p><b><i>UPDATE 2.15pm: MGM Grand just <a href="http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/02/mgm-grand-hotel-las-vegas-non-smoking-room-guarantee-fee/143431/1?csp=34travel">announced</a> that they are rescinding the $20 non-smoking fee. It's still showing on the website, but hopefully they'll take it off soon, and refund the people who've checked that box.</b></i> <p>More and more hotels are eliminating their smoking rooms thanks to both customer requests and local regulations, says <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2011-02-17-smokehotels17_CV_N.htm">a huge USA Today report</a> that frames the issue in terms of similar prohibitions on smoking on airplanes, in bars and restaurants and in rental cars. It's interesting reading if you like heaps of hotel statistics but the upshot is that, at least in the U.S., you're almost guaranteed a smoke-free room.</p> <p>Well, <strong>except in Vegas</strong>. According to the <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2014230502_webtroubleshooter15.html"><i>Seattle Times</i>, pbb 2011-02-17T12:07:27-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/21/17434/6820 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/ashtray.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>Today's WSJ has an article about guests' frustrations with the recent hotel smoking bans implemented by big box chain hotels like Marriott and most recently, Sheraton.<p>This of course, is not news to us as our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/8/2/144444/6432/hotels/OpenThread_Marriott_s_New_Smoking_Policy"><b>Open Thread: Marriott Smoking Ban</b></a> as been steadily added to for a year and a half. Indeed the story from at least one guest featured in the WSJ's article, came straight from a HotelChatter member. The reporter Sarah Nassauer even contacted us directly about speaking to our Hotel Mavens and thus we set her up with some sources. (Sadly, there's no mention of this in her article.) <p>Anyways, thanks to all of you who keep contributing to the OpenThread--you're really giving fellow juliana 2008-02-21T17:23:28-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/2/11/11845/1368 <![CDATA[<p> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/8580/starwood_logo.gif" class="imgborder" align=right> <p> <b><i>[HotelChatter OpenThreads are a place for readers to <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/newuser">get in here</a> and talk about hot stories and issues of the day in an open forum.<p> If you are already a HotelChatter member log in to comment, if not <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/newuser">become a member</a> for free and comment away.</i>] </b> <p> Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts announced the further de-smokification of their brands with 300 <b>Sheraton</b> and <b>Four Points by Sheraton</b> locations in the US, Caribbean and Canada going smoke-free by December 31st, 2008. Previously in January 2006, Sheraton's sister brand Westin went smoke-free throughout the US, Canada and Caribbean - with the properties in Fuji, Australia and Scotland following due to its popularity, and Marriott AndrewC 2008-02-11T12:34:40-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/