LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A former anti-smoking advocate who spent many years combating tobacco use was surprised to discover a $419 smoking charge on her resort invoice — elevating questions concerning the accuracy of the sensors resorts use to detect smoking.
Mary Ferguson and her husband go to Las Vegas each month. In July, they stayed on the Rio Las Vegas. Ferguson mentioned they selected the property to see its renovations and since it supplied her a superb deal.
“The trip was fine, up until check out,” Ferguson mentioned. “That’s where we discovered this problem.”
At checkout, Ferguson noticed that the resort had charged her a $419 smoking charge.
The Rio Las Vegas because it appeared on Oct. 23, 2025. (KLAS)
“I do not smoke,” Ferguson mentioned, “My husband does not smoke. We have never smoked. In fact, I was a health educator doing tobacco cessation for nearly 20 years.”
Ferguson mentioned she labored for a well being system, coaching nurses and instructing them why tobacco is harmful for our well being. The night time linked to the violation, she and her husband retreated to their room early to keep away from any smoke on the property, which presents all non-smoking rooms.
“We just don’t like to be around it,” she mentioned. “So here it was 9:30 in the evening on a Saturday and we’re back in our room trying to stay away from it, only to be accused of smoking in the room.”
A smoking violation report Ferguson offered reveals the smoke was reportedly so unhealthy within the resort room – the smoke index, which is often between zero and 10, hit a whopping 100. The air high quality determine got here in as “hazardous,” the very best on the size on the report.
Mary Ferguson and her husband go to Las Vegas each month. In July, they stayed on the Rio Las Vegas. Ferguson mentioned they selected the property to see its renovations and since it supplied her a superb deal. (KLAS)
“They’re telling you that you survived, basically a fatal smoking event,” 8 Information Now Investigator David Charns mentioned.
“Right,” Ferguson mentioned. “We fell asleep shortly thereafter. We went to bed afterward. I had no idea that we had this, you know, toxicity in the room whatsoever. There was no one knocking at our door. No alarm went off. Nothing. Like I said, the only indication we had that this was an issue was upon checkout, and the fee was charged.”
“It’s your word against the hotels, and you have to you will have at least some ammunition before you get into that room,” CBS Information Journey Editor Peter Greenberg mentioned.
Greenberg advises vacationers to doc as a lot as they’ll throughout their keep to forestall any incidental expenses. This contains photographing any injury within the room and the minibar.
Complaints with the Higher Enterprise Bureau present 28 entries referencing smoking on the Rio since March. A lot of their authors additionally write that they don’t smoke. Lodge management responded to a few of the complaints, including that the violations could possibly be “one-offs” or “isolated.” (KLAS)
“What’s your advice for travelers who have a great time here in Vegas and then get one of these fees and just don’t have the proof to say, ‘Yeah, I actually wasn’t smoking?’” Charns requested.
“One is your own medical history. You basically prove you’re not a smoker,” Greenberg mentioned. “No. 2, you apparently paid for the bill with your credit card. You can dispute the bill on your credit card because you were charged for something you didn’t contract for.”
Oftentimes, bank card firms will waive the cost as a result of combating it’s extra expensive, he mentioned.
Complaints with the Higher Enterprise Bureau present 28 entries referencing smoking on the Rio since March. A lot of their authors additionally write that they don’t smoke. Lodge management responded to a few of the complaints, including that the violations could possibly be “one-offs” or “isolated.”
CBS Information Journey Editor Peter Greenberg advises vacationers to doc as a lot as they’ll throughout their keep to forestall any incidental expenses. This contains photographing any injury within the room and the minibar. (KLAS)
“I don’t have a problem paying for something that was ours. It was not,” Ferguson mentioned.
“All guest rooms at Rio Las Vegas are non-smoking,” a spokesperson for the property mentioned Thursday. “We utilize air quality monitoring technology to enforce this policy, which is consistent with other properties in and around the Strip. Each violation is reviewed thoroughly to ensure fairness, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for all guests.”
Amid the 8 Information Now Investigators’ questioning, the Rio waived the charge, Ferguson mentioned.
8 Information Now Investigator David Charns may be reached at [email protected].
