A while back Huffington Post was outraged by Allen West criticizing mandated Handicap Access features for hot tubs. Those leftist went wild with rage. They called him names. Said he hates handicap people. And lambasted the businesses who protested this change. Some went so far as to claim they know what is better for the business than the actual owners of the business. But, as evident by these individuals not starting their own hotels, the business owners know the market better than busybody outsiders.

John Stossel pointed out that the cost of the handicap access to hot tubs alone (not to mention all the other government requirements on hotels) would cost hotels more than $40,000 each:

Despite that, this year, the Department of Justice, constantly issuing new regulations, decided that portable pool lifts are no longer enough…

The lifts are intrusive — we’ll start to see a lot of devices like this around pools. Miller estimates that his renovations, already underway, will cost $40,000.

The money has to come from somewhere, and the only way for hotels to make money is from customers. Every mandated feature is paid for by consumers. So hotels are required to provide lifts, ramps, and every other government mandated feature, and people complain about hotel prices. Naturally they blame “greedy” hotels rather than greedy politicians. Politicians skyrocket the cost of sleeping in a bed! Literally people might spend $100 per night or more at a hotel. For a substantial number of people in America, that is more money than they make in one day! One day’s work in exchange for one night’s sleep! Of course this leads to misery. I have slept in my car at times. I have slept in airports. I have slept outside. When I am paying the cost, sleeping in my car for two nights is not better than the alternative use of that $200 (a Kindle Fire, several nice meals, toys for my children, etc).

Luckily, the market tends to bypass government regulations. Sites like airBNB have emerged allowing private individuals to rent their unused rooms, bypassing most hotel laws. But as usual, the government tries to destroy innovation:

New York recently passed a law making it very difficult for people to offer short-term rentals via popular websites like Airbnb and Roomorama, which connect room-owners and room-renters. I could be fined $25,000 if I rent to tourists through those services.