National &amp; International Policy

Information Technology

Sports Tourism

This was the main thought I had when looking to attend AH&LA’s Legislative Action Summit in DC (Hyatt Regency at Capitol Hill). It came at a time when I had left the hotel industry, wondering if I had hit my ceiling and didn’t know my path forward. ...

Onto The Hill, Into a New Chapter: My LAS/Hotels on the Hill Experience

Andrew Hopson

Food and Beverage Leader

Andrew Hopson

The volatility of markets over the last few days has raised important questions about economic health globally, for the U.S. and for the travel industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released employment figures for July that showed fewer new ...

An Update On Economic Conditions for Travelers and the Travel Industry

Joshua Friedlander

Vice President, Research, U.S. Travel Association

U.S. Travel Association

Markets & Performance

An offshoot of the well-established Potter Handy firm, The Reddy Law Firm is quickly becoming known for its aggressive pursuit of claims under the California Unruh Civil Rights Act and the California Disabled Persons Act. These lawsuits, often refer...

ADA Defense Lawyer: How to Respond to a Lawsuit filed by The Reddy Law Firm for Violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, California Disabled Persons Act, or ADA

Stuart Tubis

Lawyer at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP and a member of JMBM’s ADA Compliance & Defense Group

First, the nomenclature of the forbidden practices, then the names for the law, a summary of the latest events, and details of the final California Junk Fee Law. In this article, we will focus on the changes to the California Civil Code (CC), and pa...

Understanding California’s Landmark Junk Fee Law Revisions to the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)

Experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™

Food & Beverage

In the morning hours of June 25, 2024, the California Assembly unanimously approved Senate Bill 1534, an emergency response to the special interests of restaurants and labor (the California Restaurant Association and UNITE HERE), exempting any “rest...

Junk Fee Law: Exception to SB 478 for California Restaurants Moves Forward

Experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™

Food & Beverage

On June 11, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed HR 6543, the so-called “No Hidden FEES Act of 2023” which introduces federal regulations aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the advertising of hotel room and short-term...

The House passes HR 6543 and enters the ring to regulate Junk Fees for hotels and short-term lodging

Experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™

Mark S. Adams is the go-to senior lawyer in JMBM’s hospitality litigation team for assessing legal exposure, pursuing legitimate claims, and defending a client’s rights involving hospitality matters.

Jim Butler asks Mark S. Adams for update on California Junk Fee law: Would SB 1524 gut SB 478’s honest pricing for all?

Jim Butler

Partner, Chairman, Global Hospitality Group®

For more than 20 years consumers have complained about hidden mandatory fees, junk fees, resort fees, destination fees, service fees, administration fees, health fees, surcharges, connection fees, and similar charges, whatever they are called.

Pricing transparency without hidden mandatory junk fees. Does this apply to restaurants too? New California proposed law (SB 1524 ) says “No!” Can this be right?

Experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™

California businesses brace for Senate Bill 478‘s impact. SB 478 was signed by Governor Newsom in October 2023 and became effective July 1, 2024. It cracks down on hidden fees, often referred to as “junk fees” and “drip pricing” (because the full co...

Junk Fees are banned in California as of July 1, 2024! What does the California Junk Fee Law (SB 478) mean?

Experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™