Consumer advocates lead the charge against hotel fees.

The hotel industry is poised to collect nearly two billion dollars in fees and surcharges this year.

That news sparked complaints to the Federal Trade Commission from consumer and travel advocates.

Advocate Ed Perkins writes in his blog for the Chicago Tribune that he and the Business Travel Coalition complained, arguing mandatory fees should be included in a hotel room's "base rate."

They say extra fees and surcharges make it impossible to successfully compare room rates among hotels, because the true cost is hidden.