New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who commemorated his electoral victory in November by walking out to Ja Rule’s “New York,” is standing up for constituents in an undeniably impressive way with his administration‘s banning of nefarious junk fees on hotel stays.
On Wednesday (Jan. 21), Mamdani said during a press conference that a pursuit of “dignity and decency” was at the heart of this move, which was made possible by a final rule from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP).
As the mayor explained, businesses operating from a place of fairness have nothing to worry about; those doing the opposite, however, can expect government intervention.
“To those who have long approached business as an opportunity to mistreat those who they serve, let today be a warning,” the confirmed Lil Wayne and Kim Petras fan said Wednesday. “If you do not change your practices, city government will change them for you. Life in our city does not need to be defined by hardship.”
The DCWP’s rule bans hidden junk fees and unexecuted credit card holds on hotel stays. As many readers are likely aware, such fees are often labeled, albeit without transparency on what they actually mean, as everything from “destination fees” to “hospitality service fees.” All told, the DCWP says it received more than 300 complaints on such fees in 2025 alone.
Notably, the final rule goes further than one from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in that it also requires transparency on credit card holds and deposits.
“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,” Mamdani said in a news release. “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. In just three weeks, our administration has made it clear that deceptive business practices do not have a home here—and that City Hall will always fight for New Yorkers to know exactly what they’re paying for.”
The Mamdani administration has hit the ground running in 2026. Earlier this month, a settlement of just over $2 million was announced in connection with what the administration described as “tenant harassment and hazardous conditions” spanning 14 different buildings in the city. Also this month, Mamdani’s office said it would restart an affordable housing project dubbed Just Home, marking a clear departure from his predecessor, Eric Adams.