A look at the sneaky fees at Niagara Falls that some call 'a total cash grab'

Tourists and critics say that placement on the bill gives the appearance of a government-mandated charge. But that is not the case.

"It's going to the owner" of the business, said Janice Thomson, president and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism.

Ah, the old tried and true Rogers tactics.

Can't you ask for it to be omitted?

TorontoWest91 wrote: ↑ Can't you ask for it to be omitted?

First you have to notice these charges. They appear as 3 or 4 character acronyms at the bottom of the bill where they're likely to be missed or confused with a tax like HST and MAT. That's not by accident. They're hoping you won't see them and if you do you'll just assume they're legit taxes.

But even if you do see them and ask about them, staff is trained to resist your request to remove them using the sort of bullshit responses that are quoted in the full article.

"It's a total cash grab," a server at Milestones restaurant told an undercover Marketplace producer. When asked by customers, she says she "cringe(s) every time and I'm totally honest about it because that's what it is."

The restaurant charges a six per cent "Luxury Fee" at its Niagara Fallsview location, though no such charge exists at most other locations of the chain, according to the restaurant's parent company, Foodtastic...

At a nearby TGI Fridays, a server said the NFDF, or Niagara Falls Destination Fee, "goes towards improving the tourist experience," while at IHOP, the server said he had been trained to explain the 10 per cent NFDF as "mandatory" and going toward "maintenance and fireworks."

In fact, the city's famed fireworks are paid for by a separate fund, which receives money from the Mandatory Accommodation Tax (MAT).

Most people do not look at there bills, its been around for years, price of going to the falls and enjoying the attractions.

olek86 wrote: ↑ Most people do not look at there bills, its been around for years, price of going to the falls and enjoying the attractions.

If you don't like it, pack a picnic.

Not trying to be a jerk - Picnics are fun if the weather is on your side... healthier and cheaper too. As an aside.. is anyone else done with winter?

I'm sure this doesn't just happen in the Niagara region... but I will keep an eye on this as I do look at the bill. if this is at a restaurant, i guess no tip for you. lol

olek86 wrote: ↑ Most people do not look at there bills, its been around for years, price of going to the falls and enjoying the attractions.

There are two issues here:
1. the fees themselves
2. the sneaky ways they're being charged and explained

The first can be dealt with easily if the restaurants and hotels simply include these fees into their menus and rack rates.

The second is a scam that borders on fraud. And that's before we get into the outright lies that staff are coached to make to those who question these practices.

The presentation to look like a government imposed fee is the real slime here that should get hammered.

If you watched the Marketplace episode, you will see that the mayor does not give a hoot as nothing has changed since Marketplace’s visit a few years ago. Well, actually things have gotten worse.

Janice Thomson, president and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, presents a bleaker picture. Not sure how she got into that position as she seems more suited for the prize redemption counter at Chuck E. Cheese.

It is evident that this place preys on tourists. Hopefully, one day this will backfire on them and Niagara Falls will turn into a ghost town.

Been there in better days. Probably many people will avoid the place but there is a segment of the population that pays the going price. It always astounds me how many people pay a restaurant bill without looking at it.

Used to be a regular at Niagara Falls, but now refuse to go completely, because of this. F them.

What happens if the customer flatly refuses to pay these "mandatory" fees?

For example...
Me: "I refuse to pay this NFDF fee. There was no mention of it on the menu (or booking, etc.) I didn't give my consent then because I didn't know about it and now that you're telling me for the first time, I decline."
Scammer: "Well, sir it's mandatory."
Me: "If you don't remove the fee I'm not paying."
Scammer: "Sir you have to pay."
Me: "I'm happy to do so providing you remove the fee you never told me about. I refuse to pay that."
Scammer: "Sir, I've been instructed by management that this fee can't be removed. If I try to do it they'll fire me."
Me: "That's your problem, not mine. If you don't like it, call your manager. Call the police. Call gawd almighty. I don't care. I'm simply not paying this fee."

So what happens next?

CBC ha covered this topic before, At least twice right? Not new and discussed many times in every newspaper.
Award winning journalists? repeating the story for one more award?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/niagar ... -1.4001972



CBC marketplace 6 years ago. Then again after one year.

https://canuckscribe.wordpress.com/2013 ... -tell-you/

https://torontosun.com/2016/03/31/niaga ... s-visitors

Same fee, different names

The Ontario government has allowed destination marketing fees in tourist communities since 2004.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/niagar ... -1.4001972

starchoice wrote: ↑ If you watched the Marketplace episode, you will see that the mayor does not give a hoot as nothing has changed since Marketplace’s visit a few years ago. Well, actually things have gotten worse.

Janice Thomson, president and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, presents a bleaker picture. Not sure how she got into that position as she seems more suited for the prize redemption counter at Chuck E. Cheese.

It is evident that this place preys on tourists. Hopefully, one day this will backfire on them and Niagara Falls will turn into a ghost town.

Been there in better days. Probably many people will avoid the place but there is a segment of the population that pays the going price. It always astounds me how many people pay a restaurant bill without looking at it.

When the weather isn't good, NF is pretty dead. Definitely prey on tourists, but tourist supply is never-ending basically, as the Falls is considered 1 of the attractions of the world. This definitely seems shady though

From my travels, these fees are nothing new. When I was in Barcelona, the city had some tourist tax on the hotel bill. When I was in California, they had numerous extra fees geared towards tourists. Lots of fees are not even listed on the bill. It's priced into the location. Like...touristy areas charge higher prices in general. That's like a "fee".

I say let the businesses charge whatever they want. Customers should speak with their wallets. I prefer people don't develop the mindset that governments need to implement price controls into leisure activities. Nobody is forcing you to go to Niagara Falls. More importantly, these fees hit price insensitive foreign tourists more than it does local tourists. So what are you complaining about?

I even support these fees. The businesses had some rough years due to covid. Running a business is hard. If they think the market can bear the extra costs without risk of losing customers, sure...let them do it. If they are wrong, they can always choose to play with prices again.

BananaHunter wrote: ↑ From my travels, these fees are nothing new. When I was in Barcelona, the city had some tourist tax on the hotel bill.

Most major cities have a tourist tax, either a higher tax in place of sales tax or a separate tax in addition to sales tax. Reputable cities, hotels and restaurants make it clear in all of their literature, price lists, menus, etc. that this tax exists and the amount. I have no objection to that.

touristy areas charge higher prices in general. That's like a "fee".

That's fine. Charging $10 for a beer is OK by me. Showing the price of that beer on the menu as $8, then tacking on some stealthy $2 ABC fee is not.

The businesses had some rough years due to covid. Running a business is hard.

Not all businesses survive. If a business isn't profitable they can raise their prices in a transparent manner. That way customers can decide if the prices charged are worth it. If they are fine. If they aren't then the business fails. If a business can survive only through fraud then (a) it's not a viable business and (b) it doesn't deserve to survive.

If they think the market can bear the extra costs without risk of losing customers, sure...let them do it

Once more, by all means. But do it transparently, not in a fraudulent manner.

If they are wrong, they can always choose to play with prices again.

Or they can accept that their business isn't viable. That's what honest business people do.

Although I understand the outrage for regulars visiting Niagara Falls, I don’t think most of us need to visit that place more than once in our lifetimes.

Just vote with your wallet and choose never to go back after seeing the Falls once. They’ll eventually get the picture.

I get that its bullshit, but its definitely aimed at American tourists.

I go to Niagara maybe once every 5 years. Paying extra 10$ in fees no biggie to support them.

What is this charge difference from recycle fee or whatever other similar tax/fees?

I see no difference

Niagara Falls is a big scam cuz of all these fees. They could just raise prices and charge as one fee instead of this nonsense. As others said vote with your wallet. Visiting once in 5-10 yrs sounds reasonable which is what I do…just day trips as well. Screw their scammy fees.