by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Fri August 25, 2023
Hyatt Hotels Corporation is facing a lawsuit over adding
hidden resort fees and falsely advertising room prices.
According to tzlegal.com,
consumer advocacy group Travelers United filed the lawsuit last week against
Hyatt, which claims the hospitality company falsely advertised the cost of its
hotel rooms by adding destination, resort and other “deceptive” fees that did
not appear in the listed price.
The lawsuit claims that not only did the false advertising
deceive travelers by making prices appear cheaper than they were, but Hyatt
also broke the law by adding the hidden fees, according to Travelers United’s
Chief Legal Officer Lauren Wolfe.
In total, hidden fees in the hotel industry surpass $2
billion each year.
“This lawsuit will show that hotels violate the law when
they charge resort fees without including them in the advertised price,” Wolfe
said. “American consumers are sick and tired of corporations taking advantage
of them with relentless junk fees.”
“Travelers United hopes this lawsuit permanently ends this
deceptive practice, and holds Hyatt accountable for their false advertising,” Wolfe
continued.
In February, United States President Joe Biden announced the
Junk
Fee Prevention Act to provide relief to consumers and make the economy more
competitive by reducing fees and increasing transparency.
The following month, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) brought forth the proposed
legislation by President Biden, with the intent of ending the surprise costs
for consumers and mandates "airline, entertainment, ticketing industry
fairness."
More recently, major hospitality brands like Marriott,
Hilton and MGM Resorts have been accused of hiding
resort fees.
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