Travel Advisor Group Supports Resort Fee Transparency

Resort fees, which have been called “the most hated fee in travel,” have prompted lawsuits and a bill before Congress — the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019. Now the American Society of Travel Advisors is among advocates for the bill, which would prohibit hotels and other short-term rentals from advertising room rates that don’t disclose extra charges other than government-imposed taxes and fees.

While travelers may have grown accustomed to being hit with extra charges for services and amenities that used to be included — not only at hotels but on airlines and cruise ships as well — they at least deserve to know beforehand what the actual costs will be. Travel advisors often step in to counsel clients on hidden charges, but they shouldn’t have to.

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— Maria Lenhart, Travel Advisor Editor

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A Top Chef episode at MGM Cotai in Macau. Photo: Carmo Correia/Bravo

Travel Agency Group ASTA Aims to Shield Hotel Guests From Resort Fee Pain: The American Society of Travel Advisors’ show of support for the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 indicates growing distaste among agencies, as well as the general public, for resort fees, particularly when they are not disclosed up-front. Such support is a logical step for the organization, which has long advocated for pricing transparency.

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Skift Travel Advisor Editor Maria Lenhart [mbl@skift.com] curates the Skift Travel Advisor Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday. Have a story idea? Or a juicy news tip? Want to share a memo? Send her an email.

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