Members of the OHI (Outdoor Hospitality Industry) Government Affairs Team and OHI members were back in Washington, D.C., for the third time, meeting with U.S. senators to advocate for the Credit Card Competition Act (S. 1838), a bipartisan bill designed to introduce competition in the credit card marketplace and reduce excessive swipe fees that cut into small business profits.
In partnership with the Merchant Payments Coalition (MPC), OHI is ensuring that the outdoor hospitality industry has a voice in the fight against rising processing costs. Visa and Mastercard currently dominate the credit card marketplace, imposing fees that totaled over $100 billion in 2023, costs that disproportionately affect small, family-owned businesses like OHI members. Campgrounds like Mecca Camp Resort, a 33-site campground in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, pay over $12,000 a year in credit card fees, a major hit to their bottom line.
The Credit Card Competition Act would introduce much-needed competition by requiring large banks to allow alternative networks for processing transactions, breaking up the Visa-Mastercard stronghold and ultimately lowering costs for small businesses.
“Persistence is key with this important issue. OHI is committed to the fight for fair competition in the credit card marketplace,” says OHI President and CEO Paul Bambei. “Every conversation on Capitol Hill brings us closer to real change, and we’re here to make sure the voices of our members and the entire industry resonate.”
If you’re an outdoor hospitality business owner that takes credit card payments, this affects you directly. OHI urges campground owners and operators to stay informed and engaged on this issue. To learn more about how credit card swipe fees impact the industry and how you can get involved, visit ohi.org/advocacy/.
