Hotels in China are stepping up enforcement against guests who light up in their rooms, imposing substantial cleaning fees that can reach thousands of yuan. A recent social media post has brought this policy into the spotlight after a traveler shared a notice from a Hyatt property in Hangzhou, alerting guests that smoking could result in a ¥1,000 cleaning surcharge.

The viral post, geo-tagged at the Hyatt Regency Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, included a card stating that the hotel would collect ¥1,000 from the room account if any smoking was detected. On September 13, a customer service representative from the hotel confirmed this policy to reporters, adding that as the property is located within the airport terminal, it operates a strict no-smoking policy throughout the premises. Smokers are directed to a designated outdoor courtyard instead.

It turns out this practice is not unique to one city or one brand. High-end establishments in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Chengdu have adopted similar measures, with some charging even steeper fees. The Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, under the Hilton umbrella, has set its cleaning fee for in-room smoking at ¥1,200. A duty manager noted that while the warning is prominently communicated to guests, they have yet to actually enforce the charge.

The manager explained that smoke odor lingers in carpets and curtains, requiring extensive treatment for any affected room. Meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton Suzhou, a Marriott property, goes a step further by charging ¥2,000 for guests caught smoking in their rooms. In other indoor areas, staff will first attempt to dissuade the behavior.

At the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai, an InterContinental property, the approach involves a different kind of detection. A staff member explained that cigarette smoke travels through the central air conditioning system, prompting staff to trace the source once detected. When identified, the offending guest is asked to pay a ¥1,000 fee to cover the smoke-free treatment costs. However, they acknowledged that enforcement has its limits — if a guest denies the charge, the hotel cannot forcibly collect the fee, unless the act triggers the smoke alarm, which can cause sprinklers to activate and lead to mandatory, and significantly higher, charges.

For travelers, the message is clear: hotel in-room smoking policies are becoming stricter, and the financial penalties for violating them are on the rise. As more properties adopt these high fees, the advice is to always check the hotel's smoking policy before settling in — or simply step outside for that cigarette.