When Profit Overshadows Compassion: Rising Hotel Rates for Families in Crisis

Here I am, climbing onto my soapbox, my hands trembling and my heart racing.

Maybe it’s the echoes of past trauma, or perhaps it’s the painful realization, that...

Corporate greed often overshadows empathy, compassion, and the very essence of humanity.

For two long years, my family found ourselves at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto more often than in the comfort of our own home. The staff there became like family, going above and beyond to create special moments during our darkest hours. They offer discounted rates for families staying at SickKids Hospital, which is a much-needed lifeline for those facing unimaginable challenges.

A Lifeline in Crisis:

The Role of Compassionate Hotel Rates for SickKids Families

One of the few comforts for families seeking treatment at SickKids is knowing they have a place to rest without financial strain. The Chelsea Hotel has provided this for countless families over the years, helping lighten the load with reduced rates.

Unfortunately, compassion often takes a backseat when profit enters the picture.

The Burden of Rising Costs: A $100 Meal and $700 Rooms

Recently, I came across a receipt from another cancer family: three burgers with cheese and bacon at the hotel cafeteria—$100 (see image at the top of the page).

That number, plain and simple, hit me hard.

With high-profile events like Taylor Swift’s Toronto tour coming up, I couldn’t help but think of families like ours, just trying to save their children’s lives.

For so many, each dollar spent is a choice between basic needs and staying near their hospitalized child.

I reached out to the hotel, hoping they’d maintain their hospital rates during this busy time. But the response was disheartening: for November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, they’re not honouring the usual SickKids rate. Families would face rates of $700 to $800 a night, plus taxes—a crippling cost when every dollar matters (see image at the top of this page).

This isn’t limited to one hotel either; many others are suspending compassionate rates on these dates.

How can we call ourselves a compassionate society when profit outweighs the well-being of families fighting for their children’s lives?

The Taylor Swift Effect:

How Major Events Amplify Financial Challenges

This isn’t Taylor Swift’s fault, of course. She’s just one part of a larger issue: events that attract massive crowds to the city lead to price hikes across the board.

But the question remains—

How did we get here?

The truth is, we allow this to happen, each dollar we pay confirms demand on supplies and services.

We pay exorbitant prices for concert tickets, only to see the ripple effect as it hits struggling families. This normalization of exploitation fills me with deep sorrow.

The Bigger Picture: Profit Versus People

This situation represents more than just inflated prices; it signifies a profound loss—a loss of compassion, of community, and of understanding.

Families facing crises shouldn’t bear the additional weight of corporate greed.

One friend told me that popular artists can’t change the realities of our capitalist society. While that may be true, I believe in the potential for change. Young fans today—teenagers and young adults—are more vocal, informed, and driven to make a difference. Maybe it’s time to let them lead, to let them demand better, and to shift this culture of corporate indifference.

We must do better.

We must ask ourselves: What kind of society do we want to be?

One that prioritizes profit over people, or one that stands up for the vulnerable?

What We Can Do: Advocating for Families in Need

If you’re interested in helping families facing these challenges, organizations exist that assist with hotel costs for families staying at hospitals in Ontario. I’m happy to share more information about these support networks and hope we can amplify this conversation to bring change where it’s desperately needed. Reach out here.

Together, we can demand change—not just for SickKids families, but for all those affected by similar hardships.

Let’s raise our voices and advocate for a compassionate approach to pricing that honours families in their time of greatest need.

If you believe in compassionate care for families in crisis, please help amplify this message by sharing it. Simply copy and paste the URL below into your social media feeds, emails, or any place where you connect with your community. Together, we can make a difference.”

https://thisthingcalledgrief.com/blog/when-profit-overshadows-compassion-rising-hotel-rates-for-families-in-crisis