Bill Overview
Title: To require inns, hotels, motels, and other establishments that provide lodging to transient guests to include all mandatory fees and other charges in the advertised rental rates for such lodging, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill requires inns, motels, hotels, and similar establishments to include all mandatory fees and charges in any advertised rate for lodging. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission.
Sponsors: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4]
Target Audience
Population: People staying at hotels, motels, inns, and other transient lodging worldwide
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill applies to the lodging industry, which includes hotels, motels, inns, and similar establishments offering short-term stays to guests.
- Travelers and transient guests are the primary consumers of such lodging services and will be most impacted by the change in advertising practices.
- Including all mandatory fees upfront will affect consumer choices and satisfaction, as upfront transparency in pricing is a prominent issue.
- Globally, millions of people travel for business, tourism, and other purposes, making up a large population benefiting from transparent pricing.
Reasoning
- The policy is focused on the lodging industry in the US, which will impact both domestic and international travelers.
- The $5 million budget in year 1 will likely cover efforts for consumer awareness, compliance monitoring, and initial enforcement actions.
- While the broader global estimate is 500 million travelers, the American target of 100 million reflects frequent travelers and those sensitive to pricing changes.
- Given the scope and target population, the impact is likely higher among frequent travelers who face unpredictable fees.
- With the budget and scope in mind, the sample of interviews should reflect diversity in travel frequency, economic impact, and price sensitivity.
Simulated Interviews
Marketing Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's frustrating when hotels aren't upfront about fees. This policy sounds like it will make business travel planning easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freelance Photographer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I end up staying in many unfamiliar hotels due to my work. Transparent pricing would help me budget better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a student, every dollar counts. This could save me from unexpected fees that strain my budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Software Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely use hotels, so this might not affect me much, but it's a good move for honest pricing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I plan trips with friends a few times a year, and transparent hotel prices would help avoid surprises.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't stay in hotels very often, but it's nice to know what the costs will be upfront.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Professor (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a good policy for academic travelers like me who need to justify expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Travel Blogger (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change will be huge for travelers like my audience who rely on honest reviews and pricing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Consultant (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this will make lodging costs clearer for my corporate travel budgets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clear pricing helps me allocate budget better for business trips, good move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement costs are mainly associated with the FTC's role in ensuring compliance with ad transparency regulations.
- Businesses may incur compliance costs, but these are not direct federal expenditures.
- Potential increases in consumer trust could indirectly benefit the travel sector, boosting economic activity.