If you’ve been anywhere near a pool, beach or European monument this summer, you may have noticed a travel boom that’s still going in the face of flight misery, deadly wildfires and rising mortgage rates. Hotels have jacked up prices not only because of rising costs but because demand has been so strong after Covid-19 — especially if Beyoncé or Metallica is playing in town.

But if you’ve also endured room service trays piling up in the corridors, infrequent room cleaning, reduced perks or the sight of a previous occupant’s underwear hanging off the balcony (don’t ask), you’ll be aware that hotels and other hospitality venues are skimping on expenses by cutting back on service. It’s the leisure equivalent of goods “shrinkflation” — charging the same price for smaller-sized products — and it’s deservedly under more scrutiny in hotspots like France, where prices have soared during another likely record-breaking summer.

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