I stay in the Crowne Plaza chain of hotels quite a bit both on business and with my family. They class themselves as a premium brand and for the main, they live up to this claim. As a result, the prices in the hotels for meals and drinks are not cheap (far from it) but this week I have to say “shame on you”.

As you will be aware, the government lowered the UK rate of V.A.T (value added tax) from 17.5% to 15% last week in an effort to try and boost the UK economy.

But Crowne Plaza hotels have had a better idea on how to use this reduction.

Keep the prices the same and take the 2.5% as additional profit!

Previously, at the bottom of all printed price lists there was a single line of text saying “VAT @ 17.% included in the cost”

Today those same price lists have a sticker over the top of this saying “VAT @ 15% included in the cost”.

The final price (what you and I actually pay at the till) stays the same.

Should I be bothered about this? After all, I am still paying the same price for my food and drink.

Well the government put this price drop in place to help the UK economy and that includes businesses and consumers.

Crowne Plaza hotels have taken the opportunity to use this as a way to increase all their prices by 2.5% instead.

Lets just hope this sort of behaviour is highlighted if the travel industry is forced to go cap in hand to the government at some point in the future like many other businesses.

Shame on you!