Travel Agency Group ASTA Aims to Shield Hotel Guests From Resort Fee Pain
Photo Credit: An episode of Top Chef at MGM Cotai in Macau. Some MGM properties charge guests resort fees. Bravo / Carmo Correia
Skift Take
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.
Deeming resort fees “out of control,” the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has launched an advocacy campaign in support of the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress in late September.
The travel advisor organization issued a letter to members on October 9 announcing its support of the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat, and Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican of Nebraska. Travelers United and Consumer Reports likewise back the measure.
The bill seeks to bar hotels and other short-term rentals from tacking on fees, which can include anything from maid service to fitness center access, that aren’t shown up-front in the advertised room rate.
The legislation comes in the wake of several lawsuits introduced earlier this year against hotel chains over resort fee practices.
In the letter, the travel advisor organization stated its long-held support of mandatory pricing disclosure,
