New Fees at Hyatt, Westin

Guests who stay at a Hyatt or Westin hotel or resort and check out before their scheduled departure dates may have to ante up an additional $25 to $50 under a new fee program in place at both chains.

Both companies instituted the fees in an effort to keep track of and sell vacant rooms. And rooms that are vacated without warning are harder to resell, said Sue A. Brush of Westin. “All we really want to know is exactly when you’re leaving,” Brush said, “so if you’re leaving earlier than you thought, we can resell the room.

Travelers are told about the fees when they reserve and when they check in and given the option of changing the terms of their stay. At Westin, 24 hours notice of a change in checkout plans will eliminate the fee; at Hyatt, each hotel handles each case as it sees fit.