The potential nationwide impact of California's 'junk fee' laws

The state is now a testing ground for rules affecting how hotels and other accommodations display mandatory fees

As the California Department of Justice has stated, "The price a Californian sees should be the price they pay. With the passage of Senate Bill 478 and Assembly Bill 537, California is at the forefront of efforts to regulate junk fees, using its hotels as a testing ground for these new laws.

Key takeaways

• The bill prohibits short-term lodging establishments from advertising or displaying a room rate that excludes any mandatory fees or charges, other than taxes and government-imposed fees;
• In addition, it requires lodging establishments to include all taxes and government-imposed fees in the total price presented to the consumer prior to making a reservation;
• As hotel chains adjust their fee disclosures in response to California's new regulations, it could influence how room rates are displayed nationwide.

Get the full story at Hotel Dive