Reconsidering resort fees: Exploring their positive signaling value in hotel pricing strategies

Nicolas Jankuhn, Yunmei Kuang, Woojong Sim, Romain College of Business, University of Southern Indiana, Woodbury School of Business, Utah Valley University, School of Business and Technology, Emporia State University

Tourism and Hospitality Research

Published online on September 18, 2025

Abstract

Tourism and Hospitality Research, Ahead of Print.
Resort fees, mandatory charges added to hotel room prices, remain prevalent despite consumer aversion and regulatory scrutiny. This paper explores the potential positive signaling value of resort fees, proposing that they indicate a hotel’s confidence in ...