Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the No Hidden Fees Act, a significant legislative victory for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). The bill aims to establish a comprehensive standard for transparent and mandatory fee displays across the lodging industry.
What Is The No Hidden Fees Act?
The No Hidden Fees Act will require short-term rental platforms, online travel agencies, metasearch sites, and hotels to clearly disclose all mandatory fees upfront to consumers. Introduced by Representatives Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), the bill received unanimous approval from the House Energy & Commerce Committee in December before passing with bipartisan support on the House floor.
"This legislation will create a single and transparent standard for mandatory lodging fee displays, leveling the playing field across the industry," said Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO of AHLA. "We appreciate the efforts of Reps. Kim and Castor, and will continue working with Senators Klobuchar and Moran to pass their related legislation in the Senate."
The Senate companion bill, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act (S. 2498), introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), also seeks to establish a uniform standard for mandatory fee display across the entire lodging ecosystem.
According to AHLA's latest data, only six percent of hotels nationwide charge a mandatory resort/destination/amenity fee, averaging $26 per night.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
