Rules that require hotels, resorts and vacation rental operators to show the whole price, including fees, upfront have been finalized by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and will take effect in 120 days.
The rules don’t wipe away nuisance fees such as resort fees, cleaning charges and the like, but they do require that they be shown upfront, before you’re asked to make a reservation. FTC says they are aimed at “bait-and-switch pricing tactics, such as drip pricing and misleading fees.”
Online travel agencies and companies that sell tickets to live events such as concerts are also covered.
Numbers of companies have already begun to comply. Airbnb has offered a Total Price Display as a feature; it will now be a requirement, at least for U.S.-based users. Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott say they are already in compliance.
That’s a different tack than that taken by airlines; a similar rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation requiring transparency on fees for airlines is on hold as the airlines challenge it in court.
