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THE U.S. HOUSE of Representatives passed the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025, mandating that hotels and short-term rentals disclose total booking costs upfront. The bill, introduced by Representatives Young Kim (R-California) and Kathy Castor (D-Florida), received support from industry groups such as AAHOA and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. AAHOA commended the passage, noting that the association "has long advocated for fairness and transparency in pricing and believes this legislation marks a significant step toward ensuring travelers have clear, accurate information when booking accommodations." "Transparency is key to building trust with our guests and to ensuring a level playing field across the hospitality industry," said Kamalesh "KP" Patel, AAHOA's chairman. "AAHOA will always champion policies that promote fairness and empower consumers to make informed decisions. This is an issue that transcends party lines, as today's vote powerfully demonstrates. We are grateful to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in the House for passing this bill."

DONALD TRUMP WILL return to the U.S. presidency for a second, non-consecutive term in January, making him the first to do so since Grover Cleveland. Hotel associations such as AAHOA and the American Hotel & Lodging Association were quick to offer congratulations. In September, both groups were in Washington, D.C., to advocate for legislation important to the industry. Some of the proposed legislation that AHLA is supporting include: The Closing the Workforce Gap Act would replace the arbitrary annual cap of 66,000 available H-2B temporary visas with a new, needs-based system. Extending a pass-through tax deduction, 199A, which is set to expire in 2025 and provides tax relief to franchisees and other hotel small businesses. Maintaining the like-kind exchange, section 1031, which allows hoteliers to defer capital gains taxes when they sell one property if they roll the proceeds into the purchase of a larger one. According to AHLA, the exchange helps create new jobs and contributes to economic growth. The Hotel Fees Transparency Act and the No Hidden FEES Act would establish a single and transparent standard for mandatory lodging fee display and an even competitive playing field for hotels, short term rentals, online travel agencies, and metasearch sites.