Las Vegas: At the Cosmopolitan, you're now paying for other's parking.

I found this little bit of news from the Cosmopolitan to be interesting:

Cosmopolitan to include parking in resort fees. Best of Las Vegas

Starting Jan. 1, The Cosmopolitan no longer will charge guests separately for parking and valet service.

Parking will be among the amenities incorporated into the resort fee, which will rise from $35 to $39.

Parking and valet currently cost $10 and $18 a day, and the change will result in $6 to $14 savings for such guests. Las Vegas locals will continue to receive the first hour of parking free of charge.

If you're from Southern California and drive to Las Vegas this is a great deal. If you're from pretty much anywhere else and fly to Las Vegas, and then take a taxi, Uber/Lyft or private car service to  The Cosmopolitan you're getting screwed.  Because you're now paying for other's parking expenses despite having none of your own.

You're literally paying for an amenity you're not using, and will never use. It's a charge on your bill that you a.) cannot get removed and b.) will receive no benefit for.

The imposition of parking fees at Strip hotels was one of the most controversial devaluations of the customer experience to date. What the Cosmopolitan has done is ensure that everyone must bear the brunt of these charges regardless of whether they're driving or not. In effect, this is a big middle-finger to The Cosmopolitan to guests who are arriving via McCarron Airport and NOT renting a car.

The article states that around a quarter of Strip guests some in from Southern California. That means that 3 out of 4 people potentially staying at The Cosmopolitan are NOT from there, and may not be driving.  I would put the number closer to 2 out of 3 since not all drivers come from Southern Cali.  that still means that The Cosmopolitan is going to experience a net increase in revenue, despite raising the fee at a lower rate than the parking.  They're going to collect a lower fee from more customers, a fee that is going to drive value down for a majority of customers, and already the local Vegas "tourism" sites are advertising this as as "win" for consumers?

This is a cash grab by Blackstone Management Group pure and simple.  And this is a shame. While pricey the Cosmopolitan is one of the better Strip casinos still, offering slightly improved odds, great amenities and comfortable lodging. Outside of TI it really is the last option on the Strip for the serious gamer.

That they would take such a customer unfriendly approach such as this is discouraging.

Yes, it's not a lot of money, but it's just a worse case of nickel & dime charges that each customer must bear. Resort fees, CNF fees, charges for high-speed wi-fi, poorer gaming odds. The molehill is becoming a mountain.

Marketing push aside, this is only increasing the size of the mountain, don't believe the hype to the contrary.