Stop me if you’ve been here before: You book a certain hotel room because you found what seemed like a reasonable, affordable rate online. Then, at check in, you find out that the rate displayed on the website didn’t include extra fees, such as a “resort fee,” and your final bill is much higher than expected.
Thanks to new legislation set to take root next month, travelers to New York City won’t have to worry about such a situation in the future.
Starting February 21st, New York City hotels will now be legally required to include any and all “junk” fees—such as resort fees, destination fees, or hospitality fees—in the advertised price.
The new rule states that it is now considered a deceptive trade practice “to offer, display or advertise a price for a hotel without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price of the stay, including all mandatory fees.”
This is widely viewed as a win for consumers, who will benefit from the transparency.
The new law is the latest in a recent trend of consumer protection legislation that has been implemented in recent years, including a Federal Trade Commission rule outlawing deceptive fees across multiple industries. While portions of the rule are still being implemented, the FTC has repeatedly identified the hotel sector as a focus area for enforcement.
Major booking platforms have also begun to adjust. Airbnb, for example, has begun displaying total prices—including mandatory fees—earlier in the booking process, following pressure from regulators and consumer groups.
Though one might expect hotels to push back on such legislation, the reaction has been quite positive overall, at least in public. Hotels themselves stand to be harmed by predatory and deceptive pricing by their competitors, who can advertise lower prices by keeping extra fees concealed in online listings.
Now, everyone will be on the same playing field, as required by law. For a traveler simply looking to have all the cards on the table, and pay what they expect to pay, the new legislation will certainly be a welcome sign of progress.
ByWill McGough, Contributor.
