Senators Amy Klobuchar and Jerry Moran have introduced a bill addressing hidden resort fees at hotels, according to an NBC news report. The bill, known as the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, was drafted as a bipartisan effort to relieve travelers of extra costs for hotel stays.
The Hotel Fees Transparency Act calls for established federal pricing guidelines that have previously been voluntary at hotels. If passed, the bill would “require anyone advertising a hotel room or a short-term rental to clearly show upfront the final price a customer would pay to book lodging.”
The bill falls in line with President Joe Biden’s call for hotels and resorts to disclose their full price lists up front.
“We’ll ban surprise ‘resort fees’ that hotels tack on to your bill,” Biden said during his recent State of the Union address. “These fees can cost you up to $90 a night at hotels that aren’t even resorts.”
Any violations would be handled by the Federal Trade Commission under the terms of the bill. Attorneys general would also be able to pursue civil action against those who do not follow the terms laid out in the bill.
Klobuchar explained the importance of the bill to NBC and noted that these federal requirements could aid travelers in budgeting and planning their stays.
She commented, “Too often, Americans making reservations online are being met with hidden fees that make it difficult to compare prices and understand the true cost of an overnight stay.
“This bipartisan legislation would help improve transparency so that travelers can make informed decisions.”
