Duff on Hospitality Law

Our weekly Online Travel Update for the week ending December 23, 2022, is below.  As our short list of stories highlights, last week was a relatively quiet week in the online distribution world.  Enjoy.

• • DOT Extends Comment Period for Proposed Rule on Airline Ancillary Fees.  For those of you who have followed our updates on federal rulemaking around ancillary fees in the travel industry (both airline and hotel), you’ll recall that before the FTC announced its plans to pursue rulemaking for hotel and resort fees, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its own plans to regulate ancillary fees in the airline industry, including publishing a proposed new rule on the issue in October.  At the request of several industry trade groups and associations, the DOT announced last week that it was extending the comment period for those interested in the proposed new DOT rule.  With the extension, the comment period now runs until January 23. 
  • Phocus Wire’s Movers, Shakers and Newsmakers in Travel for 2022.  As the year draws to a close, it is always interesting to read major publications’ reviews of the prior year.  The online travel industry is no exception as Phocus Wire last week shared its list 2022 movers, shakers and newsmakers.  From my perspective, I was surprised by both a few of the items included in Phocus Wire’s list as well as a few items omitted from Phocus Wire’s list.  What do you think?  Did Phocus Wire miss anyone or anything in particular?  My own year-end Online Travel Update will be out next week summarizing the stories I felt were most important for this past year.  I look forward to your thoughts and comments.