I am using xfce with a minimal set of services and all the system apps and most others open instantly. Alt+tab is also always instant. It is an MS, Apple, Gnome/KDE problem, not modern computers one.
It is not the hotels, who charge it, but governments, most often the municipality. Usually there is no obligation to hide that from the guest or include it in the price. Just to pay. You can also go pay it straight in the town hall, the hotel is just doing you a favor.