(The Center Square) – A hotel company has agreed to more clearly display fees and total prices for rooms in an agreement announced by Democratic Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office on Thursday.
Omni Hotels is the second company in three months to reach an agreement with Weiser’s office over “hidden fees” after an investigation into the nightly pricing for rooms. The Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield is part of the company.
In September, Weiser’s office announced a settlement with Choice Hotel International, Inc., after an investigation found the company misrepresented room rates, mandatory fees and the total price in advertising.
Omni will display mandatory fees and total room prices in all advertising, according to the settlement. The company agreed to communicate the total price after fees as the most prominently displayed rate with taxes listed separate from fees. Omni also will provide information on any fees paid for amenities and will train employees on the new pricing requirements.
“Consumers shouldn’t have to navigate complex agreements or dig through fine print to find the total cost of their hotel,” Weiser said in a statement. “That’s why we’re holding companies accountable and ensuring consumers get the whole story well before check-in.”
In the settlement, Omni denied that it or its employees, franchisees or owners of the hotels violated any regulations or other laws.
“Omni maintains that it did not and does not misrepresent room rates, mandatory fees, or total price and clearly disclosed all mandatory fees,” the settlement states. “Nothing contained herein may be taken as or construed to be an admission or concession of any violation of law, or of any other matter of fact or law, or of any liability or wrongdoing except as expressly required by state law.”
Omni will be required to resolve any consumer complaints made to the state within 30 days and report how the complaint was explained or resolved. The company also agreed to respond in good faith to any requests by the state for information or other needs.
