hotel fees
AHLA Statement on Senate Committee Passage of Hotel Fees Transparency Act
AHLA | August 1, 2024
WASHINGTON (August 1, 2024) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation approved the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, which would create a nationwide standard for lodging cost transparency. The bill now awaits a full Senate vote. “Today’s committee vote in the Senate is an important step toward a more transparent booking process for guests and a level playing field across the lodging industry – including short-term rentals, online travel agencies, metasearch sites, and hotels,”...
California’s New Junk Fee Law Now Has Worldwide Effect. Here’s What You Need to Know to Avoid Costly Litigation
Jim Butler | July 3, 2024
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com On July 1, 2024, California’s new Junk Fee Law took effect. It could have worldwide impact if prices for goods or services are publicly advertised and reach California residents. How can you avoid that with online ads and other public broadcasts over commercial media? In anticipation of this event, many international hotel companies, cruise lines, travel providers, ticket sellers, and online sellers have already changed their advertising and promotions to comply with California law rather than risk violation. Watch for a big change to ...
Understanding California’s New Hotel Industry Legislation and Its Impact
Cendyn | May 23, 2024
California’s hotel industry is gearing up for significant changes with the introduction of two pivotal laws: California Senate Bill 644 and California Assembly Bill 537. While the former focuses on cancelation policies, the latter emphasizes pricing display transparency. In this blog, we’ll delve into the key aspects of each bill and explore their potential impact for hoteliers. California Senate Bill 644 was officially endorsed by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on October 10, 2023, and mandates hotels in California to allow penalty-free cancelations within 24 hours after the confirmation if reservations are made at...
AHLA Statement in Support of the No Hidden FEES Act
AHLA | December 4, 2023
WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2023) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President & CEO Chip Rogers is speaking out today in support of the No Hidden FEES Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla. “The No Hidden FEES Act creates a single standard for mandatory fee display across the lodging industry – from short-term rental platforms to online travel agencies, search engines, metasearch sites, and hotels. This legislation would ensure that wherever consumers shop for lodging, mandatory fees are included in the price they see. AHLA is grateful for th...
AHLA Sues Biden Administration Over Franchise-Model Destroying Rule
AHLA | November 10, 2023
WASHINGTON (Nov. 10, 2023) – Today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas challenging the legality of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) new “joint-employer” regulation. The suit contends the NLRB has violated the National Labor Relations Act and is acting arbitrarily and capriciously in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The NLRB issued a new joint-employer standard Oct. 26 that will force hotel brands to the collective bargaining table with franchised employees over w...
AHLA Statement in Support of the Hotel Fees Transparency Act
AHLA | July 31, 2023
WASHINGTON (July 31, 2023) – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President & CEO Chip Rogers is speaking out today in support of the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Moran (R-Kan.). “The Hotel Fees Transparency Act is an important bill that will create a single standard for mandatory fee display across the entire lodging ecosystem – from hotels to online travel agencies, metasearch sites, and short-term rental platforms,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “We know consumers shop for travel across multiple sites, and this bill is a pivot...
In the Poker Game of Hotels, Resort Fees Are the Rake
David Eisen | July 18, 2019
By David Eisen Nothing irks people more than paying for something they don’t need or use. I once paid $50 for a pair of pants I never ended up wearing—but that’s on me. I’m to blame. It’s another thing altogether when you are forced to pay for a pair of pants that you didn’t want in the first place. What hotels call resort, or facility, or destination fees, are kind of like that pair of trousers you never planned on buying or wearing. Within hotels, those pants are things like the gym, beach chair use, pool towel service and other nonoptional charges to the guest that are not included in the initially quoted room rate. I,...
U.S. Lodging Industry Fees and Surcharges Forecast to Increase to a New Record Level in 2016 – $2.55 Billion
Bjorn Hanson, PhD | August 30, 2016
By Bjorn Hanson, PhD, Clinical Professor NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism Following the 2015 record of $2.45 billion, total fees and surcharges collected by U.S. hotels are forecast to increase to another record level of $2.55 billion in 2016. Although the amount will establish a record level of fees and surcharges, the percent increase will be the lowest since 2009. The increase for 2016 reflects a combination of approximately 2.0 percent more occupied hotel rooms than in 2015, more categories of fees and surcharges, and higher amounts charged, but lower fees and surcharges for hig...
