No More Hidden Hotel Fees? New FTC Rule and Legislation Target Price Transparency

Hotel and online travel companies have issued their support for the FTC's rule, and some brands — including Airbnb — have begun complying with it.

A new Federal Trade Commission rule requiring transparent prices for hotels, online booking sites, and short-term rentals takes effect May 12, and Congress is moving to make portions of the rule permanent.

The House passed the Hotel Fees Transparency Act on April 28 and the Senate companion bill (S. 314) advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee in February. The legislation and the FTC rule would require online bookers and hotels to include a total price upfront that includes charges or fees for mandatory goods or services, excluding taxes.

The legislation and the FTC final rule have the backing of online travel companies and hotel groups, and some have already begun complying: Airbnb announced in late April that it was showing the total price without taxes worldwide on th