§ 5-15 Hotel Fee Disclosures.
RCNY § 5-15
(a)Definitions. Hotel. “Hotel” means a building or part of a building which is legally authorized to have guests occupy guest rooms. Person. “Person” has the same meaning as set forth in § 20-102 of the Administrative Code. Total price. “Total price” means the maximum total of all charges and fees that a consumer must pay, inclusive of any mandatory fees and charges, except taxes and fees imposed by a government, which may be excluded.
(b)Applicability. This section applies to any person who offers, displays or advertises the price of a stay in a hotel in New York City, and any person who offers, displays or advertises the price of a stay in a hotel to a New York City consumer.
(c)It is a deceptive trade practice for any person to offer, display or advertise the price of a stay in a hotel without disclosing the total price in a clear and conspicuous manner. Any such offer, display, or advertisement must disclose the total price more prominently than any other pricing information, and must not mispresent the nature, purpose, amount or refundability of any fees or charges, or the identity of the good or service for which the charge or fee is imposed.
(d)Any person who offers, displays or advertises the price of a stay in a hotel must disclose the following items clearly and conspicuously, before a consumer consents to pay. This requirement applies from the point at which a consumer can reserve the hotel stay, regardless of whether they put down a deposit to secure a reservation in such hotel, through the point at which the consumer checks out of the hotel: (1) The nature, purpose, and amount of any fee or charge imposed on the transaction that has been excluded from the advertised total price, and the identity of the good or service for which the fee or charge is or will be imposed; (2) The final amount the consumer must pay for the transaction, which must be disclosed more prominently than, or as prominently as, the total price; and (3) A disclosure regarding the general policy for deposits taken or holds placed on a credit or debit card in connection with the stay at such hotel, the standard amount of such deposits or holds, any reasons the hotel may keep part or all of a deposit or hold, and the approximate time by which such holds or deposits are generally released or refunded. (Added City Record 1/22/2026, eff. 2/21/2026 and 1/22/2027*) * Editor's note: Pursuant to Section 3 of the rule, paragraph (d)(3) is effective on January 22, 2027.
