December 21, 2024 – Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released the following statement regarding the removal of the Hotel Fees Transparency Act (S.2498) along with other commerce-related bills from the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress late Friday night:
“Travel Tech is disappointed that Congress did not include the Hotel Fees Transparency Act in the final version of its Continuing Resolution, missing an opportunity to deliver meaningful consumer protections and provide consistency for both intermediaries and hotels navigating disparate state requirements.
“This bipartisan, carefully negotiated proposal is an important opportunity to establish a national standard for mandatory hotel fee transparency, ensuring consumers receive clear and upfront information about mandatory fees. Its exclusion delays meaningful progress for travelers and the broader travel industry.
“Preventing a government shutdown is essential, and we acknowledge Congress’s efforts in achieving that critical goal. However, the need for federal leadership on price transparency remains. Travel Tech will continue to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress.”
###
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
December 18, 2024 – Today, Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released the following statement in response to the issuance of the Federal Trade Commission’s final Junk Fee rule and the inclusion of S.2498, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act in the Continuing Resolution to be passed by Congress by the end of the week:
“Travel Tech applauds both the Federal Trade Commission and Congress for advancing policies that set a national standard for price transparency for consumers seeking overnight stays. Consumers will now see an up-front and consistent total service price for lodging – including nightly room rate and mandatory fees – no matter where they live or how they shop for lodging options, either directly on hotel websites or through online travel comparison tools and services.”
“Travel Tech and its member companies worked tirelessly to educate policymakers about the complex and multilayered information flow from hotels to different types of intermediaries,” said Chadwick. “As a direct result of our advocacy, both the FTC rule and S.2498 include provisions that ensure accurate mandatory fee information is relayed to consumers through both direct and indirect channels.”
“We are grateful for Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) in championing S.2498, along with Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), who introduced H.R. 6543, the House companion bill. Travel Tech calls on Congress to finalize passage of the Continuing Resolution without delay.”
###
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – Today, Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released the following statement following the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Permanent Investigations hearing titled, “The Sky’s the Limit—New Revelations About Airline Fees.”
“Travel Tech thanks the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations for holding a hearing focused on ensuring transparency and fairness in airline fee ancillary fee practices. Transparent pricing is essential to empowering travelers with all the information they need to make informed choices.
“Travel Tech’s mission is to empower traveler choice by advocating for transparency and competition. These principles ensure that consumers benefit and travel service providers can thrive in a fair, open marketplace. We look forward to working with policymakers to address these important issues.”
###
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Comments Emphasize Airline Responsibility and Consumer-Friendly Transparency in Family Seating Regulations
November 07, 2024 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) filed comments on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Family Seating Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Travel Tech expressed its support for the DOT’s commitment to ensuring families with young children can sit together on flights without incurring additional fees, while highlighting the need to focus regulatory responsibility on air carriers, which control seating policies.
In its comments, Travel Tech addressed the DOT’s proposed requirement for airlines to facilitate family seating and emphasized that ticket agents, including online travel agencies and other intermediaries, do not have control over seating assignments. Travel Tech underscored the importance of making certain the regulation clearly identifies air carriers as responsible for implementing family seating accommodations.
“Travel Tech supports the DOT’s efforts to improve families’ travel experience,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of the Travel Technology Association. “Our priority is ensuring that the final rule prioritizes airlines’ role in seating assignment without burdening ticket agents. Clear, targeted regulations will prevent confusion and help families enjoy a more seamless travel experience.”
Travel Tech’s comments included a recommendation to refine the term “online platform” in the rule to specifically apply to air carriers’ own websites and apps. This adjustment would prevent any unintended impact on third-party booking platforms and other intermediaries. Additionally, Travel Tech urged the DOT to confirm that any required refunds for families unable to secure adjacent seating should be the exclusive responsibility of the air carrier, as ticket agents do not have the necessary control over seating arrangements to facilitate these refunds.
Travel Tech also noted the importance of ensuring ticket agents and intermediaries have access to complete, real-time seating information to provide consumers with the transparency they need to make informed decisions when booking travel.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Legislation includes key provision to protect intermediaries when hotels provide inaccurate resort fee information
Wednesday, July 30, 2024 – The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) issued a letter of endorsement for an amendment to S.2498, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2024, offered by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and supported by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). The amended bill was reported favorably by U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today.
S.2498, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, as amended, will provide much-needed transparency about resort and other mandatory fees directly benefiting American consumers. It will require consumers to be shown the total price for hotel rooms and other places of short-term lodging, including the nightly rate and all mandatory fees, for the first time in federal law. This consistency is critical since consumers very often search for options across state lines.
“Travel Tech strongly supports the amended Hotel Fees Transparency Act. This legislation will provide consumers with complete and consistent pricing details—not only the room rate but also the mandatory fees set and assessed by the hotel—no matter where they live and how they shop for lodging,” stated Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of Travel Tech. “Promoting transparency is a top priority of Travel Tech and its members. S.2498 will enable travelers to plan more effectively while promoting fair marketplace competition.”
S.2498, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, as amended, includes an important provision sought by Travel Tech to protect the indirect distribution channel when hotels provide inaccurate resort fee information. The bill provides intermediaries with a “rebuttable presumption of compliance”
“Travel Tech is grateful to have worked with Senators Klobuchar and Moran, Chairwoman Cantwell, and Ranking Member Cruz on this important, bipartisan common-sense provision,” said Chadwick. “Only hotels know if their resort fees are accurate. S.2498, as amended, rightly requires them to provide accurate resort fee information to consumers shopping for travel in the direct and indirect channels.”
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
April 24, 2024 — Today, the Department of Transportation issued two final rules impacting the travel tech industry: the transparency of airline ancillary service fees and refunds of airline tickets for delayed or canceled flights.
“Travel Tech has long supported the Department of Transportation’s goals to provide greater transparency to airline consumers on ancillary fees and clear guidelines on how and when refunds are made. Regrettably, today’s final rules fail to account for how these goals can technically be achieved, adding unnecessary costs and confusion for consumers,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech).
In its ancillary fee comments, Travel Tech strongly advocated that airlines be required to provide critical ancillary fee information to all ticket agents and intermediaries, including GDSs, and not only to consumer-facing ticket agents as proposed by the Department of Transportation. Many ticket agents rely on GDSs to access airline schedules, fares, and availability information. Unfortunately, in the final ancillary fee rule, the Department declined to alter its proposal.
“Unfortunately, by not including GDSs, the very purpose of this rulemaking will be undermined, making it harder for ticket agents to inform consumers about the cost of ancillary services,” said Chadwick. “Had airlines been required to provide ancillary fee data to all ticket agents, transparency for consumers could have been achieved in months, not years. Consumer advocates cited this reason in their comments for supporting Travel Tech’s position.”
The Department’s final refund rule requires airlines and ticket agents (when acting as the merchant of record) to provide refunds to consumers within seven business days. While the rule requires airlines to notify ticket agents “without delay” when a consumer is eligible for a refund, it will still create situations in which ticket agents must provide refunds without first receiving the consumers’ funds back from the airlines.
“The final refund rule will render ticket agents as airlines’ de facto banks, forcing agents to float airlines’ refunds potentially indefinitely. Doing so unfairly places ticket agents in a precarious financial position that risks their ability to provide comparison shopping tools for consumers in the first place.”
The Travel Technology Association calls on Congress to pass its FAA reauthorization legislation. House and Senate versions of the bill include provisions supported by Travel Tech that provide sensible relief from some aspects of the Department’s final ancillary fee and refund rules.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Final bill may be considered before the expiration of the FAA’s authorization extension on May 10th
March 27, 2024 – This week, Travel Tech sent letters to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the U.S. House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure as they work to align H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act of 2023 and S. 1939, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 into one FAA reauthorization bill to be considered by both the House and Senate. Travel Tech’s letters highlighted its preferred changes to best support consumers as they purchase airline tickets.
“Travel Tech appreciates Congressional leaders for their hard work to get this critical legislation across the line,” said Travel Tech President & CEO, Laura Chadwick. “It is now critical that this bill is finalized in a way that gives travelers the transparency and choice they deserve.”
Travel Tech’s priorities for the final FAA Reauthorization bill include:
Adding Ticket Agents to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection
Ticket Agents are the largest travel industry segment not represented on this key advisory committee. Allowing them to become members will provide valuable insights currently not reflected in the committee, helping the Department of Transportation meet its consumer protection mission.
Aligning the Senate and House bills with regard to Ticket Agent refund obligations to ensure Agents’ fiscal solvency
Sec. 702 of the Senate bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule to apply refund requirements to Ticket Agents in the case of canceled or significantly delayed flights. However, Ticket Agents are not in a fiscal position to provide refunds without first receiving the passengers’ funds back from the airlines. The House bill clarifies this provision and should be fully adopted.
Clarify Ticket Agent responsibilities with regard to refund portal provision, and exempt metasearch engines and other Ticket Agents that provide services pursuant to a corporate or government contract
Section 702 of S. 1939 requires Ticket Agents to prominently display on their websites a link that passengers eligible for a refund may use to make a request. However, because many Online Travel Agents offer services beyond airfare comparison shopping and booking on their sites, these links will likely cause confusion among consumers seeking refunds for hotels, car rentals, or other services. Furthermore, Travel Management Companies that do not sell to the public already have specific refund obligations under their contracts. Finally, metasearch engines that direct customers to other sites have no record of which flight a customer ultimately purchased and should be similarly exempt.
Allow flexibility for Ticket Agents and air carriers to design the appropriate display of ancillary fees for customers, and similarly distinguish between Agents that provide services under corporate or government contracts and those that engage with the public
Remove the inclusion of Section 701 in H.R. 3935 that repeals the DOT’s Full Fare Advertising Rule.
The Full Fare Advertising Rule requires that the entire price for airfare, including taxes and fees, be disclosed to consumers in the first instance following an itinerary search. Its repeal will undermine consumers’ ability to effectively comparison shop and choose the best travel option to meet their needs and budget.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Comments Advocate for Intermediaries and Liability Protections When Travel Suppliers Fail to Provide Accurate Mandatory Fee Information
February 8, 2024 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) filed comments on the FTC’s Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees NPRM. Travel Tech expressed support for the Commission’s continued efforts to enhance competition and pricing transparency for consumers but advocated that revisions be made about who should be held liable when inaccurate mandatory fee information is provided by travel service providers, including hotels.
Travel Tech provided detailed information in its comments about the indirect distribution channel, where millions of price points are transmitted from hotels and other travel service providers to Travel Tech member companies and other intermediaries. This complex process is critical to enabling the price and quality comparison tools consumers rely on.
“Travel Tech is committed to enhancing the consumer travel experience through transparency and competition,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of Travel Tech. “However, the FTC’s proposed rule assumes that hotels will pass along its mandatory fee information – charges only they know and possess – but this is not always the case.”
Travel Tech strongly urged the Commission to revise its proposed rule to make clear that Intermediaries are not liable when Travel Service Providers fail to provide accurate, complete, and timely mandatory fee information as long as Intermediaries make reasonable efforts to receive such information.
Six years ago, Congress passed a law that held that intermediaries cannot be found liable when air carriers operating in the United States fail to provide information or data is required for intermediaries to comply with a rule about customer service information (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-254 § 427, 132 Stat. 3340.). In addition, thirty-nine states have similar laws in place when sellers provide inaccurate sales tax information to marketplaces. In its comments, Travel Tech argued that the FTC should apply similar standards in its final rule.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Major Activity Anticipated by Congress, Regulatory Agencies, and State Legislatures in 2024
January 10, 2024 — With Members of Congress returning to Capitol Hill this week, Travel Tech released a briefing on the state of play for public policy impacting the travel industry. As interest in travel continues to rebound with consumers and policymakers, the association is keyed into ongoing legislative and regulatory fights on behalf of travel tech companies.
Advocating for One National Mandatory Fee Price Transparency Law and Enforcement Fairness for Travel Tech Companies
Policymakers on both the federal and state levels continue to pursue efforts to hold hotels accountable when they withhold information about their mandatory fees from travelers. Travel Tech supports a single, national standard and a common-sense provision to account for situations when hotels fail to provide accurate and complete information to price comparison sites.
Anticipating Final Rules on Refunds and Ancillary Fee Transparency by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in February and March
According to the federal government’s Unified Regulatory Agenda, the DOT will issue its final rules onAirline Ticket Refunds and Consumer Protections in February and Enhancing Transparency of Airline Ancillary Service Fees in March of this year. Travel Tech filed comprehensive comments on both proposed rules, as each will majorly impact the travel technology industry.
Securing Travel Tech’s Priorities in the Long-Term Reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by Congress
The second extension of the FAA expires on Friday, March 8, 2024. The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will likely soon schedule a markup of S. 1939, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. In July 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. Both pieces of legislation include major Travel Tech priorities, and the association continues to advocate actively for provisions included in S.1939.
Travel Tech supports S.2033, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) to address the vast inequities resulting from extremely large search platforms, like Google, abusing their dominant position and undermining competition.
Both state and federal policymakers are grappling with how AI tools should be regulated. Given the concerns about inaccurate or outdated information and recommendations, copyright issues, ethical risks and more, the use of AI in travel may soon be a focal point in such discussions. Travel Tech will engage with policymakers on the responsible use of AI in the travel sector.
Sign up for Travel Tech’s Passport newsletter and stay in the know about news and public policy impacting the travel tech industry. Delivered every Wednesday, Passport keeps industry leaders up-to-date on current and emerging issues and advocacy efforts.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
On Wednesday, December 6th, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce considered H.R. 6543, the No Hidden Fees on Extra Expenses for Stays (FEES) Act. In advance of the markup, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) submitted a letter to the Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The committee passed the legislation in a vote of 44-0.
The No Hidden FEES Act will require – for the first time ever in federal law – consumers to be shown the total price for a hotel room (including rate and all mandatory fees). Under this legislation, the total price must be “transparent to and easily understood by the consumer.”
Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech stated, “The No Hidden Fees on Extra Expenses for Stays Act is an important first step to bring much-needed transparency to consumers from hotels to rein in their troubling resort fee practices.”
Travel Tech supports provisions in the bill that will set a single, national standard for the transparency of mandatory fees assessed by hotels. It will create uniformity and certainty for hotels, short-term rentals, online ticket agents, metasearch agents, and others, and most of all, travelers – no matter where they reside in the U.S. – about what is included in advertised pricing for lodging.
“Despite the benefits of this legislation, H.R. 6543, however, lacks a common-sense provision to account for when hotels fail to provide accurate and complete information to price comparison sites,” Chadwick added.
Thirty-nine states have laws in place to protect against situations when inaccurate sales tax information is conveyed from the seller to the marketplace and onto the consumer. These state laws rightly hold the seller – in this case, hotels – responsible in such instances and not the marketplaces like those of Travel Tech member companies. Travel Tech simply seeks the same fair consideration on the federal level regarding mandatory fee information.
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Travel Tech Submits Letter on No Hidden FEES Act Ahead of Full Committee Mark-Up
As part of Travel Tech’s expanded Advocate membership program, Zito will offer practical business advice and resources to help travel tech start-ups succeed Wednesday, January 8, 2024 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) announced a new partnership with Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi, to provide practical business advice and resources to travel tech […]
