New York City is banning hidden hotel fees to lower costs. The upcoming rule means hotels will include mandatory resort and destination fees. This also applies to service fees included in the advertised room price and to disclosing credit card holds and deposits...
The hotel industry doesn’t like short-term rentals. The hotel industry has long opposed competition. The rise of the internet and the rapid growth of short-term rental platforms intensified that opposition. Rather than focusing primarily on expanding hotel...
I completely understand the need to make a profit and extra fees — to a point. As a travel agent/advisor, my colleagues and I talk regularly about cancellation fees. Flights may have been canceled, but little money ends up in the passenger’s pocket. However,...
The federal government has redefined truth in advertising. Make sure to read the fine print. How are we to know what the price of travel products will be? The DOT allows airlines to separate baggage, seat assignments, and more from airline tickets. The FAA allows at...
Ruined vacations by a toxic blend of self-importance and social blindness. Bad behavior in hotels has been front and center lately. A recent survey by Expedia suggested hotel faux pas are a growing problem. Topping the list of no-nos: bare feet in hotel common areas...
What should be included in hotel room servicing? For the last decade, many hotels have automatically charged “resort” fees to guests to cover amenities like daily newspapers, bottled water, and use of exercise facilities. Hotels believed these fees, often added after...
These accomplishments have been achieved by working closely with our members, national media, the travel industry, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress and many other agencies.
– Removal of restaurant fees from DC area eateries — this is an ongoing project
– Creation of DOT Dashboard to outline consumer rights after cancellation of a flight
– Bi-partisan bill to eliminate hotel resort fees introduced into House of Representatives
– Creation of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections
– Advertised airfares now include airfare plus, mandatory taxes and fees
– Lost/damaged/delayed luggage compensation limit increased to $3,800
– Passengers have 24 hours to change or cancel their nonrefundable tickets without penalty
– Once an airfare is purchased, that airfare and ancillary fees cannot be increased
– Families flying together act passed by Congress that requires family members 13 years of age and younger to sit with other family members at no additional cost.
