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InterContinental New York Times Square adds a ‘resort fee’

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The InterContinental New York Times Square, a popular choice for Head for Points readers, has become the latest New York hotel to add a ‘resort fee’ to its rates.

According to the website:

The Daily Destination Fee of $30.00 USD plus applicable taxes allows our guest to enjoy: $25 Food & Beverage Credit per day, $15 Laundry/Dry Cleaning Credit per day, Premium High Speed Internet Service, Free Local & International calls, Gulliver Gate Museum pass, VIP pass for discounts at The Shops at Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center

If you use the credit against breakfast then you are almost even, although there are no shortage of places nearby to get a good breakfast for a lot less than $25 (including the diner used in Seinfeld, the name of which I always forget).  You are in more trouble if you have already booked a ‘bed and breakfast’ rate as you are then arguably forced to eat in at night.

This fee is not made clear on ihg.com until the final booking page.  Given that taxes are also excluded from the headline price, it is now getting a bit silly.  You have the IHG website quoting you $620 per night which suddenly becomes $750 per night when taxes and the ‘destination fee’ are added.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit between IHG and the hotel owner is continuing.  The landlord wants to dump InterContinental as the operator but IHG is resisting this.  I would be wary of making any cash bookings for this hotel well in advance.

The other InterContinental in New York, The Barclay, does not have a ‘destination fee’ (yet?).


IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:

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Comments (94)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Mark says:

    I wonder if the “Backstage” rooms will be as grotty as the backstage areas of most theatres?

  • AlanC says:

    Completely o/t.
    Looking for a hotel with easy access to Legoland.
    Will be flying into Heathrow.
    Prefer IHG or Hilton with lounge access.
    Any tips.

  • gnarlyoldgoatdude says:

    I’ve also stayed at the Indigo Leicester Square.
    Tiny rooms, noisy location, strange robotic staff, bizarrely elevated bed.
    They also don’t currently have a liquor license.

  • Joe says:

    I’d booked a mix of points/free credit card/ambassador certificate nights at the IC Times Square in September a while back before it went up from 60k > 70k points a night. If there’s a chance it might deflag maybe I’m better to move these to the IC Barclay… is there a way to tell how long my credit card night was valid for? I can’t remember and I guess if it’s expired now I won’t get it back?

    • Joe says:

      I emailed Ambassador Services and they got back to me in less than 24hrs with the expiry date of the voucher, and moved everything over to the Barclay. Initially the website wouldn’t recognise that the points had been refunded from a cancelled points night (even though it showed them in my balance), but I was still able to book the Barclay with points over the phone.

  • Ian Creamer says:

    Stayed at the Indigo Leicester Sq this week for two nights… small-ish room but a little noisy as directly overlooking the square. Bar was nice with good views over the city. Had real problems accessing the room… door wouldn’t open with three different card keys and staff couldn’t work out how to get in. Finally made it nearly an hour later, only for the fuses to pop and room was plunged into darkness. Ended up being moved to another room at midnight! Offered free breakfast for the two days (which was just ok). Wouldn’t rush back!

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