⚖ Seller of Travel Restriction
River City Hotel Group — Regulatory Compliance Information
✓ We're Working On It
Travelers with IP addresses originating from states requiring Seller of Travel registration are being directed to this page from all RCHG domains because we are not yet able to serve them. This restriction applies across all River City Hotel Group properties — grouprooms.org, hotelhuddle.com, hotelslots.com, bookmyteam.com, and partners.rchotelgroup.com. We are doing our very best to be entirely compliant with all applicable state laws and are actively pursuing registrations in every restricted state. Once approved, access will be restored automatically. This is a regulatory compliance restriction, not a security block — it will be lifted.
Questions? Contact us at compliance@rchotelgroup.com
If you are a resident of a restricted state and seeing this message, your IP may not be resolving correctly.
Contact Us / Request Notification
Submit your information and we'll notify you when access becomes available in your state.
Seller of Travel — What Does This Mean?
Several U.S. states require travel sellers to register with a state agency and comply with consumer protection laws before offering travel services to their residents. These "Seller of Travel" (SOT) laws are designed to protect consumers from fraud, misrepresentation, and financial loss.
River City Hotel Group (RCHG) is committed to full compliance with all applicable state regulations. Until we obtain the required registrations in each state, we are legally unable to offer or sell travel services to residents of those states. We apologize for the inconvenience and are actively working to resolve this.
Currently Restricted States
The following states require Seller of Travel registration before we can offer services:
🇺🇸 California — Seller of Travel Law
California's Seller of Travel Law is the most comprehensive in the nation. It requires any person or business that sells travel-related services to California residents to register with the California Attorney General's Office and obtain a Seller of Travel (CST) registration number.
Key Requirements
- Registration: All sellers of travel must register with the CA Attorney General and maintain a valid CST number.
- Disclosures: Registrants must include their CST number in all advertising, websites, and communications to California residents, along with a specific disclosure statement.
- Trust Account / Surety Bond: Sellers who do not operate under an ARC/IATAN appointment must maintain a trust account or post a surety bond to protect consumer payments.
- Refund Obligations: Under BPC § 17550.14, sellers must either provide the purchased travel services or make a full refund within 30 days of a written request if they fail to provide the services.
- Prohibited Practices: Misrepresentation of travel services, false advertising, and failure to disclose cancellation/refund policies are violations subject to civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation.
Consumer Rights
California residents are entitled to a full refund if the seller fails to provide the purchased services. The law provides for recovery of damages, attorney's fees, and civil penalties. Consumers may file complaints with the California Attorney General's Office.
🇺🇸 Florida — Seller of Travel Law
Florida requires sellers of travel to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and maintain either a surety bond or trust account to protect consumer payments.
Key Requirements
- Registration: Sellers must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and display their registration number in all advertising directed at Florida residents.
- Surety Bond or Trust Account: Registrants must post a $25,000 surety bond or establish a trust account to protect consumer payments for travel services not yet provided.
- Disclosure Statement: All contracts and advertising must include a specific disclosure: "Seller of Travel Registration No. ______" and a statement regarding the bond/trust account.
- Prohibited Acts (§ 559.933): Misrepresentation, failure to provide services, failure to issue refunds within 30 days, and operating without registration are all prohibited.
- Penalties: Violations are subject to criminal penalties (up to a first-degree misdemeanor) and civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
Consumer Rights
Florida residents who suffer losses due to a seller's failure to provide services may recover damages from the surety bond or trust account. They may also file complaints with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
🇺🇸 Hawaii — Seller of Travel Law
Hawaii requires travel sellers doing business in the state to register with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and maintain a trust account for consumer payments.
Key Requirements
- Registration: All sellers of travel must register with the DCCA and maintain a valid registration certificate.
- Trust Account: Sellers must maintain a separate trust account in a Hawaii financial institution for all consumer payments received for travel services not yet provided.
- Disclosures: All advertising and contracts must include the registration number and a disclosure that payments are held in trust.
- Prohibited Practices (§ 468L-4): Commingling trust funds, misrepresentation, and failure to provide services or refunds are prohibited.
- Penalties: Violations may result in fines up to $10,000 per violation, injunctions, and criminal penalties for willful violations.
Consumer Rights
Hawaii consumers are protected by the trust account requirement. If a seller fails to provide services, consumers may claim against the trust account and file complaints with the DCCA.
🇺🇸 Iowa — Seller of Travel Law
Iowa's Seller of Travel Law requires registration with the Iowa Attorney General's Office for travel sellers conducting business with Iowa residents.
Key Requirements
- Registration: Sellers of travel must register with the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
- Surety Bond: Registrants must post a surety bond or other financial security to protect consumer payments.
- Disclosures: Registration number and bond information must be disclosed in all advertising and contracts directed at Iowa residents.
- Prohibited Practices: Misrepresentation, failure to deliver services, failure to refund within 30 days of request, and operating without registration are violations.
- Penalties: Violations are subject to civil penalties under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, and the Attorney General may seek injunctions and restitution.
Consumer Rights
Iowa consumers may seek refunds from the surety bond and file complaints with the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. The law provides for recovery of damages and attorney's fees.
🇺🇸 Washington — Seller of Travel Law
Washington State requires travel sellers to register with the Department of Licensing and comply with comprehensive record-keeping and consumer protection requirements.
Key Requirements
- Registration: All sellers of travel must register with the Washington Department of Licensing and maintain a valid registration.
- Surety Bond or Trust Account: Registrants must maintain a $20,000 surety bond or establish a trust account to protect consumer payments.
- Record-Keeping: Sellers must maintain detailed records of all transactions for at least 3 years, including contracts, receipts, and correspondence.
- Disclosures (RCW 19.138.040): Registration number must appear in all advertising. Written contracts must include disclosure of cancellation and refund policies.
- Prohibited Practices: Misrepresentation, operating without registration, failure to provide services, and commingling of consumer funds are prohibited.
- Penalties: Violations subject to civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation under the Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86), plus restitution and attorney's fees.
Consumer Rights
Washington consumers may recover damages from the surety bond or trust account. The Consumer Protection Act provides for treble damages (up to $10,000) and attorney's fees for willful violations. Complaints may be filed with the Department of Licensing or the Attorney General's Office.
General Information
What is a Seller of Travel?
A Seller of Travel is any person or business that sells, provides, or arranges travel services
for consumers — including hotel bookings, vacation packages, tours, and related travel arrangements.
Several states require these businesses to register, post financial security, and comply with
consumer protection disclosure requirements.
Why am I seeing this page?
Travelers with IP addresses originating from states requiring Seller of Travel registration
are being directed to this page from all RCHG domains because we are not yet able to serve them.
This restriction applies across all River City Hotel Group properties — grouprooms.org,
hotelhuddle.com, hotelslots.com, bookmyteam.com, and partners.rchotelgroup.com.
We are doing our very best to be entirely compliant with all applicable state laws. Rather than operate without
the required registrations (which would be illegal), we are temporarily restricting access
until our applications are approved.
When will access be restored?
Access will be restored automatically once we obtain the required registrations in each state.
If you submitted a contact request, we will notify you as soon as your state becomes available.
We appreciate your patience as we complete this process.
Questions?
Contact our compliance team at compliance@rchotelgroup.com.