Hilton and Hyatt do not charge resort fees when guests redeem points, with the points covering the stay. Marriott, however, began charging resort fees upon launching the Bonvoy program. This move was seen as an effort to appear to provide strong value while reducing costs for hotel owners.
Marriott can charge fewer points because these points do not cover the full cost of a hotel stay. Hotels receive less compensation for a 'free night' award from Marriott but offset this by charging guests resort fees.
Even when guests are not paying resort fees, they are still entitled to its benefits. Most resort fees list theoretical benefits such as discounts on services or classes that may not be utilized by guests. These lists create an impression of value, disguising the true room price and allowing hotels to increase costs post-booking.