A woman in the US was shocked when a Las Vegas hotel unexpectedly tripled her bill with an additional charge. Content creator Jocelyn Harper had chosen to stay at the Westgate Las Vegas for $200 (£154) during a Labor Day visit to her sister, opting for a more affordable option instead of a luxury hotel on the strip. However, her budget-conscious decision took a turn when she received a final bill that included a surprise $566.90 (£437) smoking fee.
Angry about the sudden increase, Harper shared her experience on TikTok, warning her followers to avoid the Westgate resort. “Do not, do not stay at the Westgate resort,” she said, explaining that she was looking for a reasonably priced hotel near the strip. “I check out and I have a 500-dollar smoking fee. I don’t smoke.”
Westgate’s website indicates it’s a non-smoking hotel, with guests facing an additional cleaning fee if they are suspected of smoking in their rooms. Harper disputes the charge, asserting she doesn’t smoke and wasn’t even in her room at 6:15 pm when the smoke detector supposedly went off.
Harper attempted to challenge the fee at the front desk, but the manager told her, “there is nothing we can do.” She also shared screenshots from TripAdvisor, showing other guests had faced similar complaints. After her story gained attention online, Harper told Newsweek that the hotel refunded her and offered a complimentary two-day stay. “It was extremely stressful to lose almost $600 like that. I was really upset,” she said.
While Westgate Resorts Las Vegas has not made a public statement, the CEO of the smoke detector supplier defended the charge, stating the room was “unquestionably smoked in,” which activated the detection system. Jack O’Toole of FreshAir Sensor told Newsweek, “This technology has been proven in court and through peer-reviewed scientific articles. The Smoking Alert is scientific proof of smoking.”