Status: Checked against official sources on 18 October 2026
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is a hotel service charge?
Hotel service charge is an amount a hotel adds to a guest's bill for the services that support or accompany a stay — housekeeping, dining service, recreation or resort operations — and it is charged separately from the room rate. It can be a flat sum or a percentage of the bill, and it can be compulsory or voluntary depending on the property, the rate plan and the local market. How a loyalty programme treats such charges depends on that programme's own rules: Hilton Honors, for example, states that quoted rates do not include taxes, gratuities, incidental charges and resort fees where those apply. [3]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- A service charge is a line of its own: Hilton Honors says quoted rates are per room per night and do not include taxes, gratuities, incidental charges and resort fees where applicable. [3]
- Whether the charge earns points turns on whether it is posted to the member's room during a qualifying Stay, with the member as the guest of record. [3]
- Some charges are excluded outright: taxes, banquet and catering charges, and incidental charges billed to a master folio. [3]
How is a hotel service charge shown on a bill?
A service charge normally appears as its own line on the hotel folio, separate from the room rate, so a guest can see what was charged for the room and what was charged for services. Hotels may also ask for security against costs run up during a stay: Hilton Honors says a Participating Hotel may place a hold on a member's credit card for the cost of services in addition to the applicable room rates. [3]
Two charges often confused with a service charge sit outside the room rate as well and are covered on their own pages: the resort fee and the destination fee. Where Hilton Honors refers to a resort fee, it tells members to ask the individual property what the fee includes, and it notes that the perks bundled with such a fee can displace standard elite benefits — bottled water is not complimentary at Participating Hotels with a resort fee that includes bottled water, and wifi access may not be complimentary at properties with a resort fee. [3]
Do service charges earn Hilton Honors Points?
Under the Hilton Honors programme terms effective 15 July 2026, the test is the programme's definition of Eligible Spend, which means the room rate, eligible food and beverage, telephone, laundry, pay-per-view movies, entertainment and recreational facilities, and other incidental charges that are charged to the member's room during a qualifying Stay. [3] A member must be the guest of record on that Stay to earn. [3] So a charge billed to the room during an eligible Stay can earn Base Points, while the same kind of charge paid elsewhere in the hotel may not: dining room or other charges not billed to a member's room during a Stay are not eligible for Eligible Spend credit. [3]
| Charge on the bill | Counts as Eligible Spend? |
|---|---|
| Room rate during a qualifying Stay | Yes [3] |
| Eligible food and beverage, telephone, laundry, pay-per-view movies, entertainment and recreation charged to the member's room | Yes [3] |
| Incidental charges charged to the room and paid by the member at check-out | Yes [3] |
| Federal, state or local taxes, including city occupancy tax | No [3] |
| Banquet or other catering charges, including Group & Event Bonus bookings | No [3] |
| Incidental charges billed to a master folio | No [3] |
| Charges at non-affiliated outlets such as gift shops, drugstores or concessions, which a hotel may omit | No [3] |
| Anything beyond the room rate at YOTEL properties | No [3] |
What changes on points stays and packaged rates?
On an all-Points Reward Stay, members may still earn Hilton Honors Points for incidental charges at a Participating Hotel, provided those charges are deemed Eligible Spend. [3] Members may also earn Points on the money portion of a Points & Money Rewards Stay at all Participating Hotels. [3] Hilton's points pages describe free nights booked with any combination of Points and money, with no blackout dates. [4] Reward Stays count towards the overall number of Stays and nights used for elite tier qualification, elite tier gifting and milestone bonuses. [3]
The position is different when the room itself was obtained through a partner: members will not earn Points for incidental charges during Stays redeemed with a Marketing Partner's discount rate or free certificate unless the certificate says otherwise. [3] Folio charges incurred during an ineligible Stay earn nothing, and no Points, Eligible Spend, Stay or night credit are awarded where a member does not check in to a guaranteed reservation. [3]
Exceptions and limits
- Brand exceptions. At YOTEL properties, members earn Base Points on the room rate only and not on any other qualifying Eligible Spend. [3]
- Hotel discretion over what is billed. Participating Hotels may exclude from Eligible Spend incidental charges from non-affiliated businesses they do not own or operate, including food and beverage outlets, gift shops, drugstores, galleries, specialty stores and recreational or entertainment concessions. [3]
- Group billing. Incidental charges billed to a master folio are not eligible, and group master-billing arrangements covering several rooms on one folio are not eligible for Eligible Spend or Points. [3]
- Currency. For Stays outside the United States, Eligible Spend and Base Points are based on local currency converted to U.S. dollars weekly at a published exchange rate chosen by Hilton Honors. [3]
- Missing credit. A member who did not receive the correct Eligible Spend or Points must submit a request with a legible copy of the hotel folio; requests must reach Hilton Reservations and Customer Care within six months of the date of the activity. [3] New members may receive credit for a Stay occurring within 30 days before enrolment. [3]
- Adjustment. Hilton Honors may review and adjust the amount of Eligible Spend or Base Points earned on any Stay to ensure accuracy and compliance with the programme terms. [3]
- Benefits vary by property. Benefits and services offered by Participating Hotels may vary, and not all amenities are provided by all Participating Hotels. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is a hotel service charge included in the room rate?
No, it is billed on top of it. Hilton Honors says that, unless otherwise stated, quoted rates are per room per night on single or double occupancy and do not include taxes, gratuities, incidental charges and resort fees where applicable. [3]
Does a service charge earn Hilton Honors Points?
It can, if it is charged to the member's room during a qualifying Stay and falls within Eligible Spend. [3] Taxes, banquet and catering charges and charges billed to a master folio are excluded. [3]
Can I earn points on extras during a points stay?
Yes. Members may earn Points for incidental charges at a Participating Hotel during an all-Points Reward Stay, provided the charges are deemed Eligible Spend. [3]
Do elite benefits still apply at a hotel that charges a resort fee?
They can be affected. Hilton Honors says bottled water is not complimentary at Participating Hotels with a resort fee that includes bottled water, and wifi may not be complimentary at properties with a resort fee. [3]
How long do I have to claim missing points on a hotel charge?
Requests must be received by Hilton Reservations and Customer Care within six months of the date of the activity, with a legible copy of the hotel folio. [3]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Other hotel programmes, including World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and Accor ALL, are not covered here.
- Hilton Honors terms and conditions, effective 15 July 2026, checked 18 October 2026
- Hilton Honors points and redemption overview, checked 18 October 2026