Have you ever booked a hotel room online thinking you scored a great deal — only to see the price jump up considerably when you reach the checkout page? It’s a scenario many travelers are all too familiar with, but thanks to new rules introduced by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, that’s set to change soon. Here’s what travelers should know.
Ban on Junk Fees
In December 2024, the FTC finalized a rule that requires companies in the live events and short-term lodging industries to advertise up front the all-in price to consumers. The providers will be required to display all mandatory fees, taxes, and other charges at the start of the booking and price comparison process, rather than during final payment.
In a statement, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said, “People deserve to know up front what they’re being asked to pay — without worrying that they’ll later be saddled with mysterious fees that they haven’t budgeted for and can’t avoid.”
Since launching its review of such practices in 2022, the FTC said that it had received more than 70,000 comments about hidden and misleading booking fees. The agency estimates that the new regulations “will save consumers up to 53 million hours per year of wasted time spent searching for the total price for live-event tickets and short-term lodging.”
What It Means for Travelers
Many hotels advertise a low nightly rate to draw a traveler’s eye, only to add a resort fee or destination fee at checkout. These fees — which are often mandatory and cover amenities such as Wi-Fi, gym access, and pool usage — typically range from $20 to $50 per night. And they can add a significant amount to the final cost of the reservation.
When the new regulations go into effect, travelers booking a hotel or short-term vacation rental from providers such as Airbnb will now see the all-in price up front and clearly displayed throughout the booking process.
The regulations stipulate that “businesses cannot misrepresent any fee or charge in any offer, display, or ad for short-term lodging,” and the all-in total price must be the most prominent price displayed. Companies must also “conspicuously disclose the nature, purpose, identity, and amount of those fees before consumers consent to pay,” according to the FTC ruling.
While the regulations are aimed at providing transparency to consumers from the get-go, they notably do not regulate the amount of these fees or ban additional fees altogether.
The ruling was announced on December 17, and the FTC says that it will be enforced 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which means that it will most likely be in effect in time for the peak 2025 summer travel season.
Some hotels have already begun advertising all-in pricing. Marriott — the world’s largest hotel chain — began the practice on its website in 2023 thanks to a 2021 lawsuit settlement.
How To Avoid Resort Fees
Though these fees will no longer be quite as hidden, the unfortunate reality is that resort fees have become more widespread and are likely here to stay — but that doesn’t mean they’re unavoidable.
It pays to do a little research: Websites like ResortFeeChecker.com compile a list of which hotels do and don’t charge resort fees. Travelers can enter their destination to see a list of options, allowing them to avoid the hotels that charge these extra fees.
Some hotels will also waive the fees for elite members of their loyalty programs or — as in the case of Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt — when you use your hotel points for a free night’s stay.
And if all else fails and you do end up choosing a hotel that levies a resort fee, you can always (politely) speak to the front desk to ask if they can waive a portion of the fee, especially if you don’t plan on using the amenities the fee is supposed to cover.
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