New York City will require hotels to disclose all fees upfront starting in 2026, banning hidden resort and destination fees as millions of World Cup visitors are expected.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that hotels will be banned from charging hidden junk fees. The move is intended to prevent undisclosed costs such as “destination fees” or “resort fees” from misleading customers. The new rule will also require hotels to disclose credit card deposits and holds, so customers do not face unexpected reductions in available credit during their trips.

The rule goes into effect Feb. 21, 2026, and applies to all hotels — domestic and foreign — that advertise rates to New Yorkers. Advertised prices must include all mandatory costs, and hotels that fail to comply will face penalties.

New York City is not alone in cracking down on hidden fees. Minnesota and California have also enacted measures requiring businesses to display the full cost, including all fees.

Drip pricing is a common tactic in which businesses advertise a lower price without disclosing all costs, only for customers to see a higher total at checkout once fees are added. The practice has been a frequent source of frustration for consumers, from concert tickets to resort stays. The Biden administration began targeting drip pricing in 2024, and the Federal Trade Commission implemented a broader ban last year on hidden costs in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries.

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Discussing the new rule, Mamdani said in a statement, “Whether you’re visiting the five boroughs for the World Cup or leaving our city for a well-deserved vacation, you deserve to know how much a hotel costs up front. This new rule will ensure that New Yorkers and visitors alike are not stuck paying hidden hotel fees, and will instead save millions of dollars each year.”

The Mamdani administration said banning hidden junk fees will save consumers more than $46 million this year. It also said the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection received 300 complaints in 2025 related to hidden fees and unexpected credit card holds.

Mamdani, who won election on a promise of affordability, launched a task force earlier this month to crack down on junk fees tied to package handling and online ticket purchases. “A $5 fee here, a $10 fee there, what seems small adds up quickly and the aggregate of all of these fees only buries New Yorkers deeper in a cost-of-living crisis that defines too many of our daily existences.”

The administration is also targeting food delivery apps after finding that workers lost $550 million in tips due to platforms allowing gratuities to be added after checkout. With these efforts, the mayor aims to rein in rising costs in the city, a move that could also benefit travelers, particularly soccer fans. More than 1.2 million people are expected to travel to New York and New Jersey for World Cup matches, with hotel prices projected to rise as much as 300% around opening games in host cities.

The World Cup will be hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. However, concerns remain about traveler safety and access, particularly following a new U.S. requirement to disclose social media activity as part of the entry process. The U.S. has also partially or fully restricted entry for citizens of 39 countries, meaning some fans may be unable to attend.

International visitor numbers to the U.S. are declining as the country loses appeal among key travelers, including Canadians, and deters others due to tariff and immigration policies. The administration has also tightened visa processes and increased visa fees over the past year.

Boycott calls have also emerged in Europe following the Greenland controversy. In the Netherlands, citizens are signing a petition urging the Dutch team not to travel to the U.S. While politicians in France and Germany have dismissed boycott efforts, similar sentiment is growing there. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also said on X that fans should stay away from the U.S.