A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would require any entity advertising a hotel room or short-term rental to clearly show the final price a customer will pay to book lodging up front.
The Hotel Fees Transparency Act (S. 2498), first introduced by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), is designed to improve transparency around pricing for consumers. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion.
“The price a customer sees is the price they should pay,” Capito said. “I was proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act because it will help West Virginians plan trips with less confusion. This bill will also make it easier for out-of-state visitors to see all that the Mountain State has to offer like the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and countless other attractions. Customers deserve to make financial decisions based on transparent pricing. I am proud to support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.”
The bill is supported by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, among others.
“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,” Chip Rogers, AHLA president & CEO, said. “We know consumers shop for travel across multiple sites, and this bill is a pivotal step toward creating a more transparent booking process for guests. We commend Senators Klobuchar, Moran, and Capito for their work on this issue and for recognizing the need to create a level playing field for all types of lodging providers and distributors.”