Page 71 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - February 2023 Edition

Niagara Falls, ON, Rips-Off Tourists! 71

A look at the sneaky fees restaurant or attraction, random spot and restaurants, journalists asked for an
checks conducted by Marketplace over explanation of the added fees and
at Canada's biggest tourist
nearly a decade show the number of received some misleading explanations
spot that some call 'a total businesses adding fees to customer bills from front-line staff.

cash grab' is growing, as is the amount being
charged. At the Days Inn, a staffer described it as
a Daily Mandatory Tax before correcting

CBC Marketplace For instance, a $150/night hotel charge herself and calling it the main Mandatory
would see up to an additional $18 added. Charge, which the hotel combines with

With around 14 million annual visitors, the recently instituted Mandatory
Niagara Falls is already a potential cash "It's a total cash grab," a server at Accommodation Tax (MAT) of $2 per
cow to the many area businesses serving Milestones restaurant told an undercover night, the only fee actually collected by
tourists. But at some of them, visitors are Marketplace producer. When asked by the city.
finding contentious fees added to their customers, she says she "cringe[s] every

bills — and CBC Marketplace has found time and I'm totally honest about it The Radisson front desk described it as
they're growing. because that's what it is." an environmental fee: "It pays to
recycle."

If noticed at all, tourists typically see The restaurant charges a six per cent
them next to provincial sales tax, or the "Luxury Fee" at its Niagara Fallsview The Skylon Tower overlooking the Falls
city's mandatory accommodation tax. location, though no such charge exists at charges the lowest figure documented, an
most other locations of the chain, added three per cent on top of the
Tourists and critics say that placement on according to the restaurant's parent admission price. Staff explained the APF,
the bill gives the appearance of a company, Foodtastic. or Attractions and Promotions Fee, pays

government-mandated charge. But that is for renovations and landscaping, among
not the case. "It's clearly deceptive," says Prof. other things, but could be removed if
Andrew Ching, a marketing and requested.

"It's going to the owner" of the business, economics professor at Johns Hopkins
said Janice Thomson, president and CEO Carey Business School. At a nearby TGI Fridays, a server said the
of Niagara Falls Tourism. NFDF, or Niagara Falls Destination Fee,
What's the fee for? Front-line "goes towards improving the tourist
Just as there is no consistency in how staff offer incorrect explanations experience," while at IHOP, the server
much is charged — Marketplace found said he had been trained to explain the 10
they ranged from three to 12 per cent — Critics of added fees say they lack per cent NFDF as "mandatory" and going
there is no single name for the added fees. transparency, particularly when an array toward "maintenance and fireworks."

They go by names such as NFDF, or of names are used. Many visitors may not
Niagara Falls Destination Fee, and TIF, know what the acronyms stand for, and In fact, the city's famed fireworks are
or Tourism Improvement Fee. There's the Marketplace spot check elicited paid for by a separate fund, which
even an LF, or Luxury Fee, among many sometimes conflicting accounts of what receives money from the MAT.
others. the fees are for.
(Continued on Page 72)

While they are not charged at every hotel, In a hidden camera spot check of hotels