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New hotel fee brings big hurt to low- and fixed-income guests
$5-per-night fee will generate an estimated $150 million for state transportation projects
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Sun Suites General Manager Suzanne Moses said the new $5 fee added for every night of a hotel stay could hurt her business by adding as much as $150 to a guest’s bill. Lawmakers quietly slipped the fee into the transportation bill, which takes effect Wednesday.
The tired eyes of Justin Biggerstaff grew more weary when he learned that he’ll soon be paying an extra $5 per night for his family, which includes three young kids, to stay at the Gainesville Inn and Suites on Jesse Jewell Parkway over the next month or so while he seeks permanent housing. It may not sound like a lot, but for those individuals and families residing in extended-stay hotels across the city, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck or on fixed incomes, the fee can add up quickly. “It’s stressful, but we’re making it,” said Biggerstaff, who works at a local poultry plant.