Travel Trend Alert: Hotels Following Airlines Into Profits From Fees

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 4, 2014) - The high cost of travel may be getting higher these days while consumers find themselves paying extra for items that were formerly included. Hotels across the country are raking in the cash by charging for amenities and services that may not even be used by patrons, seeing revenues nearly double in the past ten years by charging fees.

The latest issue of Travel-Intel, the news channel for Tours.com, reports that while the airlines took in a whopping $12.7 billion in profits last year -- nearly half of that in baggage and change fees -- the hotel industry may not be far behind. Travelers who want a bed, a bath and maybe some Wi-Fi are now paying more than the sticker price with resort fees that have soared to a record $2.25 billion for the hospitality industry.

Travelers checking into a hotel in the future may find the bellhop is actually a "botlr." The issue looks at an experiment by Aloft Hotels, starting with a property in Cupertino, CA, that is dispatching R2-D2-sized robots for various on-property duties and guests are showing their appreciation through tweets, rather than tips.

Travel-Intel also reports on the vanishing vacation that is slowly evaporating within perceptions of disapproval in corporate America. A report released last month through the U.S. Travel Association shows that 40% of American workers are leaving paid vacation days on the table this year, sacrificing their health and well-being and adopting a "work martyr complex" to demonstrate their value.

The article also highlights a recent study that shows how important to health and well-being a vacation can be, starting with findings that vacations can spark romance in a relationship (80%). Respondents also noted (71%) that taking a vacation often makes them feel better about their job.

Bookish travelers looking for literary immersion within a thrilling safari in Africa will want to read about Micato's "Hemingway Wing Safari Tour" that traces the paths of the author and spends time in some of his favorite spots in Kenya and Tanzania. Micato is a trusted upscale tour company and part of the exclusive Kurtz-Ahlers Collection.

Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Line gets some light shed on its new offerings and itineraries as presented through an in-depth interview between Travel-Intel cruise editor Bill Becken and Disney Cruise Line's CEO Karl Holz.

Finally, Travel-Intel offers a tip to travelers who may need to access medical records while traveling -- something that can be daunting even in the best of circumstances and often impossible during an emergency. MyMedicalRecords.com offers a solution to that problem, a very welcomed convenience that could be life saving.

Travel-Intel goes out weekly to more than 130,000 sellers of travel and is also posted online at Tours.com. It partners with eGroup Communications to offer strategically targeted marketing services to keep travel agents and sellers of incentive and group travel up on an ever-changing world of products and destinations.

The publication reports from travel conferences and popular hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and travel destinations near and far with stories that feature the latest intel on travel. Current features and archives can be viewed at www.travel-intel.com.

"Travel is not just about beaches and best bets. It's a wide and wild industry that is changing every day and as a trusted news publication to travel agents and travel providers, Travel-Intel helps keep players in this industry on top of their game," says Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com.

As a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, Gould puts her incisive perspective into the weekly publication, with features and news updates, and also "packages" issues that detail great deals to be found at hotels and resort locations worldwide. Travel-Intel can be viewed as a stand-alone site on Tours.com. Gould publishes travel columns and stories in Larkslist, genConnect, Barclay's Travel Community, the Washington Times and Business Traveler USA.

About Tours.com: Tours.com Since 1995 - The Worldwide Directory of Tours & Vacation is the most comprehensive directory of tour and vacation providers searchable by company name, destination and/or activity. Find a Travel Agent Specialist search feature allows one to find travel agents with in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty. The Travel Resource section includes all the information a travel professional may need from Passport & Visas, Travel Insurance, Accommodations ( B&B, castles, villas and more, etc) Cruises, Barges, Boats, Yachts & Ferries, Rail & Railroad Vacations just to name a few.