Hilton Grand Vacations $750,000 MarBrisa Hotel Fees Settlement, Who Qualifies, Payment Election and January 21, 2027 Deadline

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., Hilton Resorts Corporation and Grand Pacific Marbrisa Owners Associations, Inc. have agreed to a $750,000 class action settlement in Hugo Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., et al., Case No. 25CU029217C, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The case claims MarBrisa Carlsbad charged hotel guests fees, including parking fees, that were not included in the advertised room price. The defendants deny any wrongdoing.

If you booked a MarBrisa room through the resort’s own website between June 3, 2021 and June 17, 2025 and were charged a fee that was not shown in the advertised price, you may be a class member. Money is not automatic. You must submit a Payment Election by January 21, 2027. If you don’t, you get no payment, and you can still be bound by the settlement’s release.

The deadline to opt out or object is December 22, 2026. The final approval hearing is February 19, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Pacific.

Research updated November 9, 2026, based on the court-authorized Website Notice and the official settlement website run by Apex Class Action LLC.

Hilton Grand Vacations MarBrisa Settlement Quick Facts

Settlement detail	Information
Gross settlement amount	$750,000
Case	Hugo Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., et al.
Case number	25CU029217C
Court	Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
Judge	Hon. Marcella O. McLaughlin
Defendants	Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., Hilton Resorts Corporation and Grand Pacific Marbrisa Owners Associations, Inc.
Resort	MarBrisa Carlsbad, Carlsbad, California
Class representative	Hugo Maldonado
Class period	June 3, 2021 to June 17, 2025
Qualifying purchase	A hotel room bought through www.marbrisacarlsbad.com with a fee not shown in the advertised price, including but not limited to parking fees
Payment method	Equal pro rata share of the net fund
Claim form with proof of loss	None; a Payment Election is required
Payment election deadline	January 21, 2027
Opt-out deadline	December 22, 2026 (postmarked)
Objection deadline	December 22, 2026 (postmarked)
Final approval hearing	February 19, 2027, 9:30 a.m. PT, Department 72, Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Class counsel	Day Bryne & McIntosh and Haines Law Group, APC
Settlement administrator	Apex Class Action LLC
Official settlement website	marbrisasettlement.com
Status	Payment elections open; final approval pending

What Is the Hilton Grand Vacations MarBrisa Hotel Fees Settlement About?

The plaintiff alleges that the defendants charged hotel guests at MarBrisa Carlsbad fees, including parking fees, that were not included in the advertised price of hotel rooms. The court-authorized notice describes the case this way and nothing more specific, so this article does not repeat details about how the fees were labeled at checkout that the notice does not state.

The defendants maintain they did nothing wrong. The Court has not decided in favor of either side. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing, and nothing in it is a finding that the defendants violated the law.

Who Filed the MarBrisa Lawsuit and Who Are the Defendants?

Hugo Maldonado is the class representative and sued on behalf of other people who bought rooms at MarBrisa Carlsbad. Judge Marcella O. McLaughlin of the San Diego Superior Court is overseeing the case.

The three defendants are:

1. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.
2. Hilton Resorts Corporation
3. Grand Pacific Marbrisa Owners Associations, Inc.

Class counsel appointed by the Court are Jack Day and Calvin Bryne of Day Bryne & McIntosh, and Paul Haines of Haines Law Group, APC. You do not pay them out of pocket.

Which California and Federal Laws Apply to the MarBrisa Hotel Fees Lawsuit?

The notice does not list the legal claims. Hotel and consumer fee cases in California are commonly pleaded under the laws below, and you can check the complaint on the San Diego Superior Court docket for the exact claims in this case.

California’s Honest Pricing Law: Civil Code § 1770(a)(29)

California Senate Bill 478, the “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees Statute,” amended the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA). It makes it unlawful for most businesses to advertise, display or offer a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, other than government-imposed taxes or fees and reasonable shipping costs. The law is found at Civil Code § 1770(a)(29) and took effect on July 1, 2024.

That date matters. The MarBrisa class period starts on June 3, 2021, so this provision did not apply to the whole period. Earlier purchases would have to rest on other consumer protection laws.

California’s Short-Term Lodging Price Law (AB 537)

Assembly Bill 537 (Berman, Stats. 2023, ch. 537) specifically requires hotels and other short-term lodging providers to display all mandatory fees up front, other than government taxes and fees. It also took effect on July 1, 2024.

California Unfair Competition Law: Business and Professions Code § 17200

The Unfair Competition Law prohibits unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices. Remedies can include restitution and injunctive relief. Plaintiffs in drip pricing cases often use it to challenge prices that look lower than what consumers end up paying.

California False Advertising Law: Business and Professions Code § 17500

The False Advertising Law prohibits untrue or misleading statements in advertising, including online. The question is whether the advertised price was misleading, not just whether a fee appeared on the final bill.

The Federal FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, 16 C.F.R. Part 464

The Federal Trade Commission’s junk fees rule, which targets live-event tickets and short-term lodging, took effect on May 12, 2025. It is not the basis for this settlement, and most of the class period predates it.

Common-Law Claims

Fee cases like this one also commonly include claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. The settlement does not establish any of them. It resolves the class claims without a trial.

Court Approval of a California Class Settlement

A class settlement in California does not take effect until the court approves it. Under California Rules of Court, rule 3.769, the court reviews the settlement at a fairness hearing. That is the purpose of the February 19, 2027 hearing.

Who Qualifies for the MarBrisa Settlement?

The Court defined the class as:

“All persons who purchased a hotel room at MarBrisa through the website www.marbrisacarlsbad.com within the time period spanning June 3, 2021 to June 17, 2025 and were charged any fee(s) that were allegedly not displayed in the advertised price at the time of purchase, including but not limited to Parking Fees.”

Excluded are all employees, officers and agents of the defendants, and the judicial officers assigned to the case, their staff and immediate families.

Does the Settlement Cover Other Hilton Hotels?

No. It covers only purchases of rooms at MarBrisa Carlsbad.

Do Expedia or Booking.com Reservations Qualify?

The class definition covers rooms bought “through the website www.marbrisacarlsbad.com.” A booking through a travel site is not within that wording. If you are unsure how you booked, contact the administrator.

Do You Have to Live in California?

The wording is not consistent. The settlement website’s opening heading addresses people who were California residents and bought a room at MarBrisa during the class period, but the formal class definition on the same page says “all persons” and does not state a residency requirement. If you lived outside California when you booked, ask Apex Class Action to confirm your eligibility before you rely on either wording.

What If You Didn’t Get a Notice?

The notice says that if you received a notification from the administrator, you may be a class member. If you think you qualify but got no notice or have lost your Notice ID and PIN, contact the administrator (details below).

How Much Money Can You Get From the Hilton Grand Vacations Settlement?

No fixed amount has been announced. Each class member who elects a payment gets an equal pro rata share of what is left after court-approved deductions. The amount depends on how many people elect a payment and on the deductions the Court approves.

Proposed Deductions From the $750,000 Fund

Deduction	Requested or estimated amount
Attorneys’ fees (35% of the fund)	Up to $262,500
Litigation expenses	Up to $40,000
Class representative incentive award	Up to $7,500
Settlement administration	Estimated $25,750
Total if every maximum is approved	$335,750
Remaining for class payments	About $414,250

These are proposals. The Court sets the final amounts at the hearing. You can object to any of them.

What Could Your Payment Look Like?

The notice gives no per-person estimate, and it does not state the number of class members. The examples below are hypothetical and only show how the formula works, using the $414,250 figure above:

If this many people elect payment	Each would receive about
2,000	$207
5,000	$83

Fewer elections mean larger shares, and more elections mean smaller ones. Lower court-approved deductions would leave more for class members.

Do You Need to File a Claim Form for the MarBrisa Settlement?

You do not file a traditional claim proving a loss. You must make a Payment Election: tell the administrator that you want a Class Payment and how you want to be paid. Being in the class is not enough to get money.

How to Submit Your MarBrisa Settlement Payment Election

1. Go to the official website. Visit marbrisasettlement.com and open the Payment Election page.
2. Enter your Notice ID and PIN from your settlement notice.
3. Choose how to be paid: PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, ACH bank transfer or a paper check.
4. Give the payment details: the account or contact information for electronic payment or ACH, or a mailing address for a check.
5. Submit by January 21, 2027.

The notice says payment is sent after the Court grants final approval, using the method you chose.

Cash Your Check Before the Void Date

A check shows a void date. If you do not cash it by then, the check is cancelled and the money is paid to a non-profit organization or foundation authorized by the Court, and you cannot recover it. Tell the administrator right away if you move. If you lose a check, ask for a replacement before the void date.

What Happens If You Do Nothing in the MarBrisa Settlement?

You get no payment. You also stay in the class, which means that if the settlement is approved and becomes final, you give up the right to sue the defendants over claims related to the subject matter of this lawsuit. Ignoring the notice is not the same as opting out.

What Claims Are Released?

If you do not opt out, you release Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., Hilton Resorts Corporation, Grand Pacific Marbrisa Owners Associations, Inc. and a long list of related parties, including Grand Pacific Resort Services, LP and Grand Pacific Resorts, Inc. The release covers claims based on the same factual predicates as the complaint, including claims arising out of the alleged failure to disclose fees on hotel room sales, that occurred before the Settlement Date. The release applies once the settlement takes effect. The exact wording is in Section 8 of the Settlement Agreement.

How to Opt Out of the MarBrisa Settlement

If you opt out, you get no Class Payment, and you keep the right to sue the defendants on your own, at your own expense. To opt out, send a signed letter that includes:

• your full name, address, telephone number and email address;
• a statement that you wish to opt out of the class in Hugo Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., et al., case number 25CU029217C; and
• your signature.

The settlement website has an opt-out form on its Settlement Documents page. Mail it to Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Settlement Administrator, c/o Apex Class Action LLC, PO Box 54668, Irvine, CA 92619. It must be postmarked by December 22, 2026, and you must send it yourself. A request made by someone else is not valid.

How to Object to the MarBrisa Settlement

You can object only if you stay in the class. A written objection must:

• identify the case name and number;
• include your full name, address, telephone number and, if you have a lawyer, your attorney’s email address;
• state the grounds for the objection; and
• be mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the address above, postmarked by December 22, 2026.

You may also ask to speak at the February 19, 2027 hearing, in person or through your own lawyer. You can attend virtually through the San Diego Superior Court’s virtual hearing page at sdcourt.ca.gov/virtualhearings. The Court can only approve or reject the settlement as written. If it rejects it, no payments go out and the lawsuit continues.

When Is the MarBrisa Settlement Final Approval Hearing?

February 19, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Pacific, in Department 72 of the Hall of Justice, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. The Court will decide whether to approve the settlement, class counsel’s fees and costs, and the incentive award. You do not have to attend. The Court can move the hearing without further notice, so check the settlement website.

When Will MarBrisa Settlement Payments Be Sent?

No date has been set. Payments go out after the Court grants final approval and any objections are overruled with finality. If the Court refuses approval, or a judgment is reversed on appeal, the settlement is void, the defendants pay nothing and class members release nothing.

Who Is the MarBrisa Settlement Administrator?

Apex Class Action LLC administers the settlement.

• Official settlement website: marbrisasettlement.com
• Phone: 1-800-355-0700
• Email: [email protected] (do not send bank account numbers by email)
• Mail: Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Settlement Administrator, c/o Apex Class Action LLC, PO Box 54668, Irvine, CA 92619

Do not call the Court or the Clerk about the settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hilton Grand Vacations MarBrisa Settlement

Is the Hilton Grand Vacations $750,000 settlement real?

Yes. The San Diego Superior Court authorized the notice, and the official website posts the notice and Settlement Agreement for Hugo Maldonado v. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., et al., Case No. 25CU029217C. Final approval is pending.

Who qualifies?

People who bought a MarBrisa hotel room through www.marbrisacarlsbad.com between June 3, 2021 and June 17, 2025 and were charged a fee that was allegedly not shown in the advertised price, including parking fees.

How much will I get?

An equal pro rata share of the net fund. The amount depends on how many people elect payment and on the deductions the Court approves.

Do I have to submit a Payment Election?

Yes. Without one you get no payment, even if you are a class member.

What do I need to make the election?

The Notice ID and PIN from your notice, plus your payment details.

What is the Payment Election deadline?

January 21, 2027.

What is the opt-out and objection deadline?

Requests and objections must be postmarked by December 22, 2026.

Does the settlement cover parking fees?

Yes. Parking fees are named as an example of fees allegedly not shown in the advertised price.

Can I object and still get paid?

Yes. If you stay in the class and make a Payment Election, you can still be paid if the settlement is approved.

Can I opt out and still get paid?

No. Opting out means no payment.

Did Hilton Grand Vacations admit wrongdoing?

No. The defendants deny the allegations, and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.

Do I have to be a California resident?

The website’s opening heading mentions California residents, but the formal class definition says “all persons.” Ask the administrator to confirm.

When will I be paid?

After final approval and after any objections are overruled with finality. No date is set.

Official Sources for the MarBrisa Settlement

• Official settlement website (administrator: Apex Class Action LLC)
• Frequently Asked Questions (Website Notice)
• Payment Election page
• Settlement Documents, including the Settlement Agreement and opt-out form
• Contact page
• California Civil Code § 1770(a)(29) (SB 478); Assembly Bill 537 (2023); Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 and 17500; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.769
• 16 C.F.R. Part 464 (FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees)

Related Consumer Class Action Coverage

• Empire Hotel Drip Pricing Class Action Lawsuit, What To Know
• Raging Waters $850,000 Processing Fee Settlement
• Great Wolf Resorts Lawsuit 2026: Hidden Fees At Checkout?

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent information website, not a law firm.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official Website Notice, FAQ and contact page on the settlement website run by the administrator, Apex Class Action LLC (marbrisasettlement.com), and the California and federal pricing laws cited, as of November 9, 2026. Last Updated: November 9, 2026.