WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) – members of the Senate Commerce Committee and co-chairs of the Senate Travel and Tourism Committee – introduced the bipartisan Hotel Fee Transparency Act, which was passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee.
This bill will improve transparency for consumers by requiring anyone advertising a hotel room or short-term rental to clearly disclose up front the final price a customer will pay to book a lodging accommodation. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) co-sponsored the bill. Hidden Fees Act of 2023a companion bill, led by Representative Young Kim (CA-40), passed the House of Representatives last month.
“The Hotel Fee Transparency Act gives customers the transparency they deserve when booking travel and planning expenses,” said Senator Moran. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with Senator Klobuchar on this bill and its approval by the Commerce Committee, and encourage Senator Schumer to quickly consider this bill so that people across the country can make informed travel decisions.”
“Too often, Americans are faced with hidden fees when making online reservations, making it difficult to compare prices and understand the true cost of an overnight stay,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The Senate passed my bipartisan bill to improve transparency so travelers can make informed decisions.”
The Hotel Fee Transparency Act is supported by Consumer Reports, Travel Tech Association and American Hotel & Lodging Association.
