Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Mayor Mamdani announces crackdown on hotel 'junk fees' in NYC and beyond
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 21, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 21, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a new city rule on Wednesday that would prohibit hotel operators — those in New York City, as well as those outside the city that advertise to New Yorkers — from sneaking in extra charges often described as “destination fees” or “resort fees.”
“Life in our city does not need to be defined by hardship,” Mamdani said at a press conference at the Whitney Museum of Art in Lower Manhattan. “It can be defined by costs that come down, by businesses that give you what you paid for and by the city government that New Yorkers know is actually fighting for them.”
City officials said they received about 300 complaints last year related to hidden hotel fees or unexpected credit card holds, which the new rule would also require hotels to disclose.
The new rule is part of Mamdani’s ongoing crackdown on deceptive business practices. Earlier this month, he signed two executive orders targeting hidden or unexplained fees on purchases such as gym memberships, concert tickets, and magazine subscriptions.
The ban on “junk fees” would apply not only to hotels in New York City but to all hotels that advertise prices to New Yorkers, including businesses located outside the city. It requires hotel operators to disclose all mandatory fees, including credit card holds and deposits. California and Massachusetts have similar laws.
As an example of the tourists who would benefit, Mamdani cited those planning to visit the city this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tristate area is expected to draw an estimated 1 million visitors.
The new rule was initially developed under the Adams administration and has already gone through a public hearing process. It is set to go into effect on Feb. 21.
Sam Levine, the commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said the rule would be “the strongest hotel consumer protection anywhere in the country.” Levine previously served as a director in the Federal Trade Commission under Lina Khan, a prominent antitrust expert.
In a show of union support, Rich Maroko, the president of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, joined Mamdani at the press conference. The union represents 40,000 hotel workers.
Maroko praised the mayor for going after “corporate lawbreakers.”
His appearance was a reminder of how Mamdani will have to navigate relationships with powerful unions whose political interests may not always overlap with his own. Minutes before the press conference, Maroko announced his union’s backing of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for an open congressional seat in Brooklyn and Queens. Mamdani has endorsed Claire Valdez, a fellow democratic socialist, setting up a clash with members of the Democratic Party.
Wednesday’s announcement once again highlighted Mamdani’s decision to emphasize economic justice over economic development, a move that has raised concerns in the business community.
Mamdani said he is still interviewing candidates to head the Economic Development Corporation, a quasi-public agency responsible for growing the city’s business sector.
Asked about his vision on economic development, he argued that businesses following the rules should be heartened by his crackdown on deceptive pricing practices.
“Today is not just to hold bad actors accountable,” the mayor said. “It's also to say to those who have been good actors that we see the work that you're doing.”
Tagged
Politics
economy
new york city
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .