This doesn't sound like a consumer protection issue to me. The fees are transparently listed in advance of attendance aren't they? You can choose to pay them or decline to attend. Different from a hotel where you get hit with unexpected fees when checking out and it's too late to negotiate or decline to stay.

You’re still cornered by the need. If every other place also adds random inexplicable fees then you end up paying them anyway. I guess you could argue that it’s just the same as a price increase, but like tax in the US, those weird fees are only disclosed at the checkout, not upfront.

> COVID-related fees

That's a dark phrase.

The Honda dealership in my town charged me $19 for a Covid Cleaning Fee.

I occasionally use the Rinse laundry service and they have a bizarre $5 COVID safety fee which is refunded 3 months later.

https://www.rinse.com/blog/rinse/health-and-safety-fee/