NYC Bans Sneaky 'Junk Fees' at Hotels

New rule requires hotels to disclose all charges upfront, including credit card holds

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New York City has banned hidden hotel fees and surprise credit card holds, requiring hotels and booking platforms to include all itemized charges in their advertised room rates. The new rule, which takes effect on February 21, aims to curb inscrutable 'service' fees that often surprise guests. This applies to hotels located in NYC as well as any hotel or booking site that advertises to NYC customers.

Why it matters

The new rule is part of an effort to protect consumers from unexpected costs when booking hotels, especially as the city prepares to host the FIFA World Cup this summer. Hidden fees like resort charges, early check-in/late checkout fees, and parking costs can significantly increase the final bill, often catching travelers off guard. By mandating full transparency, the city hopes to provide a fairer and more transparent hotel booking experience.

The details

Under the new rule, hotels will be required to disclose credit card holds, including the hold amount, potential retention reasons, and refund timeline. Booking platforms must also include all itemized charges in their advertised hotel rates, rather than hiding 'junk fees' like resort fees, Wi-Fi charges, and parking costs. If a hotel tries to add any unexpected fees at checkout, that would be considered illegal.

  • The new rule takes effect on February 21, 2026.
  • New York City is hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who imposed the ban on sneaky 'junk fees' at hotels.

Sam Levine

The commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, who announced the new hotel fee rule.

Tracy Lamourie

The founder and managing director of Lamourie Media, who provided commentary on the prevalence of hidden hotel fees.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Under this rule, if you check out and suddenly there's a fee you didn't see before, that's illegal.”

— Sam Levine, Commissioner, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (New York Post)

“You're paying for pool towels; you're paying for things like local calls on a hotel phone that literally nobody ever picks up anymore.”

— Tracy Lamourie, Founder and Managing Director, Lamourie Media (Newsweek)

What’s next

The new rule takes effect on February 21, 2026, and will apply to all hotels that advertise to New York City customers, regardless of their physical location.

The takeaway

New York City's ban on hidden hotel fees and credit card holds is the strongest consumer protection of its kind in the United States, aiming to provide travelers with a more transparent and fair hotel booking experience, especially as the city prepares to host major events like the FIFA World Cup.