Michelle D.
Yelp
Hotel Review: Hilton Tucson East - 7600 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ
Date of Stay: June 29, 2025
UPDATE: I received an email from Mr Sapp, the GM. He apologized for the delay in responding, mentioned that he had been out of town for a conference, and gladly reversed the charge.
BEWARE of Unjustified Charges and Poor Communication
My husband and I stayed at the Hilton Tucson East for just one night, and what should have been a simple and comfortable overnight visit turned into an ongoing and frustrating ordeal.
We checked out at the front desk on the morning of June 30 with no mention of any additional fees. However, several days later, we noticed a pending charge of $560.25 on our account. Initially, we assumed it was a temporary hold and waited to see if it would fall off. Unfortunately, it posted to our account the next day.
I contacted Hilton Customer Service and was informed that the charge was due to a smoking fee. This was a complete shock, since neither my husband nor I smoke. I disputed the charge and was transferred directly to the front desk at the Hilton Tucson East. The staff member I spoke with said she would email me further details, which she did.
To my surprise, the email referenced the use of a "clean air detector," which allegedly triggered the smoking fee. It also noted that certain non-smoking odors like candles or incense could set off this sensor. That's when it clicked -- I had lit a nice scented candle that night for ambiance, not realizing it could lead to a serious charge.
Still traveling, I promptly went through my luggage, took photos of the used candle, and drafted a professional email explaining the situation, including photo evidence. I sent this directly to Chris Sapp, the General Manager, whose contact was listed in the hotel's correspondence. I politely requested that the $560.25 charge be reviewed and removed, as it was clearly a misunderstanding -- not a case of smoking in the room.
After five days with no response, I sent a courteous follow-up asking for a status update and confirmation that my message had been received. Unfortunately, the follow-up did not prompt a response.
This experience has been extremely disappointing -- not just because of the questionable charge, but due to the lack of accountability and communication from hotel management, which I find very unprofessional. This experience makes me seriously reconsider future stays.
Final thoughts:
If you're thinking of staying at Hilton Tucson East, beware: simply lighting a candle could result in a $560 fee, and you may receive no response when trying to dispute it. I expected more from a Hilton-branded property.