unlawfulcharges.comWhat's happening at IHG Hotels (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo)?
IHG properties (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental) charge mandatory resort fees, destination fees, and forced valet parking fees. Hotel Indigo Asheville charges $30/night mandatory valet with no self-park option. The new Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove (opened March 2026) launched with a $35/night resort fee from day one. IHG properties also appear in Virginia Beach with fees documented at multiple locations.
A valet fee you can't decline, and a rate that isn't the rate
IHG's fees stand out because the guest is given no alternative. Hotel Indigo Asheville charges $30 per night for mandatory valet parking with no self-park option - the guest cannot decline it. The new Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove opened in March 2026 with a $35-per-night resort fee from day one, and IHG properties in Virginia Beach carry documented fees at multiple locations.
A mandatory charge the guest can't avoid or see in the advertised rate is what the FTC's Junk Fees Rule prohibits. California and Virginia law prohibit it explicitly, and unfair and deceptive trade practices laws in all 50 states reach the same conduct. It's called drip pricing and, sadly, it is common in many industries.
What you could recover
Depending on where you stayed: all 50 states have their own statute addressing unfair and deceptive conduct. Some states have specific laws with teeth. North Carolina's UDTPA provides mandatory treble damages plus attorney fees, which covers beach properties, Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte and others. California's CLRA provides actual damages or a $1,000 minimum plus punitive damages, with UCL restitution and up to $2,500 per violation - relevant to the Pacific Grove opening. Virginia's VCPA provides a $500 statutory minimum or treble damages if willful. Massachusetts and New Jersey add double/treble remedies of their own. More and more states are putting drip-pricing statutes in place.
Every mandatory fee you paid - valet you were forced into, resort charges layered onto the rate - is potentially recoverable, stay by stay. Generally, hotel stays within the last 4 years may qualify, depending on your state.
Where the investigation stands
Maginnis Howard is investigating claims on behalf of guests who paid mandatory fees at IHG-family properties - Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, and InterContinental among them.
Checking your eligibility takes about a minute, and no documents are needed to get started - we'll eventually ask for a confirmation email, credit card statement, or hotel folio. There is no cost unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Our legal team works on contingency, which means we only get paid if you do.
The legal basis
Why this may be illegal
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) properties (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, InterContinental) charge mandatory resort fees, destination fees, and forced valet parking fees. Hotel Indigo Asheville charges $30/night mandatory valet with no self-park option. The new Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove (opened March 2026) launched with a $35/night resort fee from day one. IHG properties also appear all over the country with fees documented at multiple locations.
The law
The FTC's Junk Fees Rule requires hotels to show a room's full price, including every mandatory fee, before you book. California's SB 478 and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Virginia's SB 1212 and Consumer Protection Act, and unfair-and-deceptive-practices statutes in all 50 states prohibit the same conduct. A fee you cannot decline — valet parking at a hotel with no self-park option, for example — is part of the price, and it belongs in the rate you were shown.
How your claim would be handled
Claims like this are handled as individual arbitration cases — private proceedings, no courtroom. For IHG Hotels (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo), cases are typically administered through AAA.
What They Showed You* vs. What You Actually Paid*
| What They Showed You* (One-night stay, Hotel Indigo Asheville) | $179.00 |
| Mandatory Valet Parking | +$30.00 |
| What You Actually Paid* (After Hidden Fees) | $209.00 |
Figures shown are illustrative examples, not records of an actual transaction; your amounts may differ.
Think you're affected? Check if you qualify and sign up in about two minutes — no upfront cost.
Check if you qualifyFrequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for this?
You don't pay anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Our legal team works on contingency, which means we only get paid if you do.
Do I need proof of my hotel stay?
You don't need proof to sign up today, but we'll eventually ask for a confirmation email, credit card statement, or hotel folio.
How far back can my stay be?
Generally, stays within the last 4 years may qualify, depending on your state.
What is Maginnis Howard?
Maginnis Howard is a consumer protection and personal injury law firm serving clients nationwide. You may find more details about us at www.carolinalaw.com.
Will I have to go to court?
No, we will file everything on your behalf.
What if I have other questions?
For all other questions, contact us at unlawfulcharges@carolinalaw.com.
What clients say
The entire process with Maginnis Howard was effortless. All our communication was by email and only a few phone calls. Any calls or emails were answered very promptly. I would like to thank Ian and Maginnis Howard. I will highly recommend any dispute that includes an Arbitration Agreement, there could no be a better Firm to represent you!
Ian is an excellent communicator who knows how to work with these companies to obtain a resolution and get you the best settlement offer possible. I highly recommend Ian and the Maginnis Howard law firm for anyone navigating the arbitration process.
I'm very grateful for his representation and the result we achieved. If you're facing arbitration and feel overwhelmed or unsure of your rights, I highly recommend Ian Vance and Maginnis Howard. They know how to handle these cases and fight for their clients.
Related investigations
unlawfulcharges.com is operated by Maginnis Howard, a consumer-protection law firm.