The dirty tricks luxury hotels use to make more money 💵🏨

Luisito Comunica

This video has been trending in Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru

The video reveals how many luxury hotels use perfectly legal, yet far from transparent, strategies to extract as much money as possible from their guests. It all starts before the booking: search engines are filled with “from” rates that never correspond to the final price. When the customer clicks, extra charges appear—resort fees, inflated local taxes, or “service charges”—that cannot be avoided and are seldom itemized clearly. This makes the rate look competitive right up to the last step of the purchase process, when it is psychologically harder to back out.

Once at the hotel, the front desk deploys meticulously trained upselling techniques. A “free upgrade” is offered, but the promotion is usually tied to the obligation to purchase a premium breakfast, spa access, or exclusive experiences. Staff also suggest late check-out or early check-in, two services that cost the property very little but carry extremely high margins. The key is for the guest to feel they are enhancing their stay when, in reality, they are unwittingly increasing the final bill.

The minibar is another pillar of profitability. Hotels charge exorbitant prices justified by “convenience,” and many install electronic sensors that automatically record the removal of a product even if the guest merely moves it. Added to this is the room-service “tray charge,” which can double the price of a simple coffee. The video stresses that these surcharges are not meant to cover real costs but to encourage the guest to go down to the bar or hotel restaurant, where the margins are equally juicy.

The loyalty program, presented as a perk, is actually another tool to squeeze the traveler. Points earned expire quickly and push guests to book additional stays or to pay for upgrades with cash plus points. Moreover, by signing up, the customer agrees to receive personalized cross-selling campaigns promoting high-margin services: private transfers, exclusive tours, or wellness treatments.

Finally, the video concludes that the opacity of these “dirty tricks” works because most guests focus on the room itself and overlook the full breakdown of costs. The main advice is to read the fine print, ask about every charge, and always compare the final price—including all extras—before confirming the booking. Otherwise, staying in a luxury hotel can end up costing far more than expected

Share Video

¿Do you like The dirty tricks luxury hotels use to make more money 💵🏨? Share it with your people...

Playlist