Senators would require travel websites to list health risks of travel destinations

“If Ms. Midlock had been aware that this particular hotel did not offer adequate emergency care, perhaps she would have chosen to stay at another location where such services were offered,” Kirk said Thursday. “Because of this, I feel strongly that websites must do their best to make sure travelers are aware of the available onsite health and safety services before they book.”

Under the bill, S. 1753, website operators must include State Department travel warnings that might relate to various destinations, and include information on the extent to which each listed facility has on-site health and safety services. The bill would require website operators to request that on-site information if it is not readily available, and if no information is provided, they would have to say specifically.

The bill would make website operators immune from any liability related to safety issues as long as they provide the information and have no reason to believe that the information is inaccurate. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules.

The Senate bill is cosponsored by Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and John Kerry (D-Mass.).