We advise hotel industry clients on litigation, compliance and risk mitigation strategies. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Guy Maisnik is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,300 hospitality properties worth more than $104.7 billion. Direct: (310) 201-3526 Mandatory COVID Vaccinations: Can/should hotels require employees to take the shots? However, the Location section asserts (also without reference) that "A handful of hotels in Canada have also recently taken up the practice." Answer 1 of 22: Are the occupancy taxes collected on resort fees in Vegas illegal? Several myths about “resort fees” have arisen. Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ is a quarterly column that I write for JMBM's Global Hospitality Advisor®. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. “Not only will this bill require upfront disclosure of all fees in the advertised price of a hotel room, but it will require the same for short-term rentals. On September 25, 2019, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would expressly make hotel resort fees and other mandatory charges illegal. According to the complaint, a “resort fee” is a mandatory per-night charge that hotel operators add on to the nightly advertised room rate. His clients include lenders, financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors, distressed investment funds, businesses, receivers, special servicers and creditors' committees. He assists clients with development, leasing and disposition, loan portfolio acquisitions, loan and debt restructure, workouts and real estate exchanges. The resort fee is more than the advertised room rate. Hotel Finance − Hotel Debt & Hotel Equity, How to Terminate Hotel Management Agreements, Hotel Lawyer on PPP2 and the COVID Relief Bill’s changes to Paycheck Protection Program, ADA Defense Lawyer: The Court Dismisses ADA Lawsuit for Lack of Standing Proving Once Again These Cases Can Be Won, Hotel Lawyer Labor & Employment New Year Round-Up: What to Expect in 2021, ADA Website “Tester’s” Lawsuit Dismissed – Again. A resort fee lawsuit may be an option for consumers who reserved a room at a U.S. hotel or resort in the past two years and were charged “resort fees” on top of their nightly room rate. For more information, contact Jamie at JOgden@jmbm.com or 310.201.3510. 4489 is entitled the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019. Her hotel experience includes handling the adaptive reuse of an historic office building as a luxury boutique hotel. He has wide-ranging trial experience in a variety of commercial disputes, including complex multi-party litigation and class actions. Bob represents lenders, special servicers, hard money lenders, community banks, national banking associations, distressed debt investors, and equity investors, positioning them for the best possible outcome by acting expeditiously to preserve value and increase cash flow. Kevin McDonnell is a partner in JMBM's Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department, and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group®. On September 25, 2019, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would expressly make hotel resort fees and other mandatory charges illegal. • If you are a loyalty program member or frequent guest, make it clear that your continued patronage depends on being treated fairly. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Jim Butler is a founder of the JMBM law firm and chairman of its Real Estate Department. Robert Company, Inc., AMRESCO Management Inc. and Midland Loan Servicer in their capacity as special servicers on troubled hotel loans in CMBS pools. Martin Orlick is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,300 hospitality properties worth more than $104.7 billion. Scott Brink is a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and a partner in JMBM's Labor & Employment Law Department. The FTC issued a warning to 22 hotels in 2012, saying that surprising guests with hidden resort fees is deceptive and illegal. View our latest valuations here. For your convenience, here are links to Resort Fee articles that will provide a fairly comprehensive understanding of the history and evolution to the current situation: Nebraska sues Hilton over hotel “Resort Fees”, Attorney General for DC sues Marriott International over hotel “Resort Fees”. 7th Floor Traveler frustration with these fees has been growing, and several state attorney generals are fighting the added costs in the courts. Reach him at 310.785.5387 or tgemoets@jmbm.com. jbutler@jmbm.com. Robert Braun is a partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,300 hospitality properties worth more than $104.7 billion. It was introduced as bipartisan legislation by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). The average resort fee in Hawaii is $27 per night with more than 100 island resorts charging additional fees (based on a study by Travel Hawaii). In others, it allows you to use the in-room safe or the coffee maker. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. This decision placed hotels apart from airlines and travel agents, who are both required to include all incremental fees in their final advertised prices. These are stupid? Bob also advises hotel owners regarding telecommunications, software, internet, e-commerce, data processing and outsourcing agreements. For more information, please contact Marty Orlick at 415.984.9667 or morlick@jmbm.com. 4489 is entitled the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019. MGM RESORT FEES are illegal Subscribe Subscribe Unsubscribe +18 . This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer, signing off. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Unfortunately, this also meant a record number of travelers were subjected to deceptive hidden fees charged by hotels, motels, and other places of accommodation,” said Congresswoman Johnson. ----- We believe that education is essential for every people. Numerous bodies have authority on this issue in the United States, including the U.S. Congress , state legislatures, the Federal Trade Commission , and the National Association of Attorneys General . Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. But these questions are being asked not only by attorneys general and legislators, they are on the lips of movers and shakers throughout the industry. In some hotels, the resort fee gives you gym or pool access. Shouldn't hotel resort fees be made illegal? It expressly authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the legislation and also permits State Attorneys General to do so as well, coordinating with the FTC. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. For more information, contact Ben Young at 415.984.9626 or byoung@jmbm.com. Oh, and that’s another thing – it’s mainly in the U.S. where resort fees are a thing. We have provided counsel on Attorney General investigations. A registered Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer in California, and a former building official for the City of Los Angeles, Kevin brings unique experience and insight in Zoning and Building Code applications and Code Enforcement issues. More. Robert Kaplan is a partner in JMBM's Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Restructurings Group and a senior member of the Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,300 hospitality properties worth more than $104.7 billion. 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