What the Changes Mean for Your Resort
Australia’s card surcharge changes took effect on 1 October 2026. Businesses can no longer add surcharges to payments made using Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express cards. For details, see the ACCC’s card surcharge guidance.
For resort managers and management rights operators, this means checking booking systems, updating guest payment information and reviewing how merchant fees affect profitability.
Check Your Booking and Payment Settings
Review every system used to collect guest payments, including:
- Online booking engines and property management systems.
- Payment gateways and emailed payment links.
- Reception EFTPOS terminals.
- Processes for collecting deposits, outstanding balances and additional guest charges.
Your payment provider may have updated some settings automatically. Test each payment process and check the receipt to confirm that a card surcharge is no longer being added.
Existing bookings also deserve attention. A booking made before October does not automatically allow a surcharge on a payment collected after the change. Check with your payment provider if you are unsure how outstanding payments should be handled.
Update Guest Payment Information
Check your website, booking confirmations, payment instructions and reception signage for outdated surcharge wording. Give reception and reservations staff clear instructions so they can explain payment arrangements consistently.
The ACCC warns that businesses should not disguise a card surcharge by calling it an administration or processing fee. Pricing information must also meet applicable total-price disclosure requirements.
Review Your Merchant Fees
Card acceptance still costs money. The removal of guest surcharges makes it particularly useful to review your merchant statements and understand what you are paying.
Ask your provider to explain transaction rates, terminal rental, gateway charges and any different fees for online or overseas card payments. Compare available plans against the way your guests actually pay.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s guidance encourages businesses to review their payment arrangements and consider competing providers.
Keep Payment Processing Costs Visible
Clear bookkeeping helps you see where payment costs arise and who bears them. For management rights businesses, review the relevant agreements before changing how merchant fees are allocated between the manager and unit owners.
Check that your records reconcile gross guest receipts, processing fees and net bank settlements. Where fees appear on owner statements, confirm that their treatment reflects the agreed arrangements.
Recording merchant fees consistently also makes it easier to compare monthly costs and understand the returns from different booking channels.
Review the Effect on Profitability
Businesses can incorporate card acceptance costs into their overall pricing, provided they do not mislead customers about prices or the reasons for an increase.
Before reviewing accommodation rates, calculate the actual payment costs. For example, monthly card receipts of $100,000 at an illustrative processing rate of 1.5% would generate $1,500 in transaction fees, before any fixed charges.
Consider these costs alongside booking commissions, cleaning, wages and other expenses. For management rights operators, distinguish accommodation income belonging to unit owners from the manager’s own business income when assessing profitability.
Need Help Reviewing Your Bookkeeping?
Accurate records make it easier to understand payment costs and make informed business decisions. Our bookkeeping and financial management services support management rights and resort accommodation businesses.
Contact Resort Accounts & Consulting for help reviewing your bookkeeping processes and gaining a clearer picture of your operating costs.
Disclaimer: This article contains general information only. Regrettably, no responsibility can be accepted for errors, omissions or possible misleading statements or for any action taken as a result of any material in this guide. It is not designed to be a substitute for professional advice, as such a brief guide cannot hope to cover all circumstances and conditions applying to the law as it relates to these items.
Resort Accounts & Consulting Industry News
Explore our Industry News section for updates and insights relevant to the management rights and resort accommodation industry. We share practical guidance on bookkeeping, trust accounting and financial management, along with commentary on developments that may impact operators across Australia. Our goal is to help management rights businesses stay informed and maintain strong financial processes. For official taxation guidance and legislative information, please refer to the Australian Taxation Office.
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