Daines sponsors Stop Online Booking Scams Act

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on July 23 sponsored bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from deceptive practices associated with booking hotel reservations online.

Sen. Daines introduced the Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2019, S. 2229, with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to make it unlawful for a third-party online hotel reservation seller who is not affiliated with the hotel to advertise, promote or sell a reservation by saying or implying they are the actual owner or operator of the hotel.

The senator said on Tuesday his bipartisan bill would help stop online booking scams and protect Montana jobs, tourism and the economy.

“Montana’s booming tourism industry is a critical part of our economy and provides high paying jobs for our communities,” Sen. Daines said. “It’s important that visitors and travelers to our state are not scammed and must have the assurances that the hotel room they booked will be there when they arrive.”

If enacted, S. 2229 also would make a failure to comply an unfair or deceptive act under the Federal Trade Commission Act, according to a summary provided by the senator’s office, which noted the bill also would give state Attorneys General the authority to bring a civil action against companies that violate this provision.

S. 2229, which has garnered support from both the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, has been referred