SB2013, titled the Stop Online Booking Scams Act, regulates third-party hotel booking websites that facilitate reservations for hotels and other physical accommodations in Illinois. The bill defines key terms such as “online platform,” “third-party hotel booking website,” “physical accommodation,” and “shared hotel brand,” and it excludes certain affiliated platforms, event housing bureaus, and hotel-brand-operated sites from the definition of third-party booking websites.
The core requirement is that unaffiliated hotel booking websites must clearly and conspicuously disclose to consumers that they are third-party services and not directly affiliated with the hotel or accommodation being booked. The disclosure must appear prominently on the selection page, first in search results, before any personal data is entered, and, in oral communications, before any offer or information about the accommodation. The bill also prohibits burying the disclosure in general terms and conditions or behind multiple clicks.
The bill’s legal effect is to amend the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by making violations of the new act an unlawful practice under that law. It authorizes the Illinois Attorney General to enforce the requirements using the full range of remedies and penalties available under consumer fraud law. The act would take effect January 1, 2027, and would apply to online booking intermediaries operating in the state.
Overall sentiment appears supportive and consumer-protection oriented, with the bill framed as an anti-scam measure aimed at reducing confusion and deceptive booking practices. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the available materials.
The main point of contention, based on the bill text itself, is likely to be the compliance burden on online travel agencies and booking platforms, especially around how prominently disclosures must be displayed and whether certain affiliated or branded platforms should be exempt. The bill also draws a line between independent intermediaries and hotel-affiliated booking systems, which may be relevant to industry stakeholders and franchise operators.
Impact
SB2013 would create a new state regulatory framework for third-party hotel booking websites and amend the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to treat violations as unlawful practices. It would affect online travel agencies, booking services, hotels, franchisors, meeting planners, and other entities involved in reserving physical accommodations in Illinois by imposing disclosure obligations and giving the Attorney General enforcement authority.
Sentiment
The available context suggests a generally favorable, consumer-protection-oriented sentiment. The bill’s caption and text indicate it is intended to stop deceptive online booking practices, and there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts showing organized opposition or amendment debate. In the absence of recorded discussion, the bill appears to have been presented as a straightforward anti-fraud measure.
Contention
The likely areas of contention are the scope of the disclosure requirements, the burden on third-party booking platforms, and the bill’s exemptions for shared-brand and affiliated booking systems. Industry stakeholders may object to the requirement that disclosures appear first in search results and before any personal data entry, while consumer advocates would likely support those provisions as necessary to prevent misleading booking practices. The distinction between independent intermediaries and hotel-affiliated platforms may also be debated.