Bill > HB945

This bill requires hotels to provide detailed notifications to guests and third-party vendors about potential service disruptions, with the goal of protecting travelers and maintaining Hawaii's tourism industry. Under the proposed law, hotels must notify all third-party vendors and current or potential guests about any service disruption, including details about the nature and extent of the disruption, as soon as possible. A "service disruption" is broadly defined and includes issues like construction noise, pest infestations, unavailable amenities, utility outages, work stoppages, or nearby demonstrations that might disturb guests. If a service disruption occurs before a guest checks in, the hotel cannot charge cancellation fees unless they provided prior notification. If a disruption occurs after check-in, guests can terminate their reservation without penalty, and the hotel must notify them within 24 hours. The bill also includes significant financial penalties for hotels that fail to comply, allowing injured parties to sue for damages of at least $1,000 or threefold the actual damages, plus attorney's fees. These provisions aim to provide transparency and protect travelers from unexpected service issues that could negatively impact their hotel stay.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=945&year=2026