1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating, and Lodging Act of 2019 or the HOTEL Act . 2. Limitation on Government spending (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency The term agency means— (A) an Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code), a military department (as defined in section 102 of title 5, United States Code), or any other establishment in the executive branch (including the Executive Office of the President, the United States Postal Service, and the Postal Regulatory Commission); (B) an office, agency, or other establishment in the legislative branch; and (C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch. (2) Beneficial owner (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term beneficial owner , with respect to a lodging establishment, means an individual who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise— (i) exercises control over the establishment; or (ii) has a substantial interest in or receives substantial economic benefits from the assets of the establishment. (B) Exceptions The term beneficial owner does not include, with respect to a lodging establishment— (i) a person acting as a nominee, intermediary, custodian, or agent on behalf of another person; or (ii) a creditor of the establishment, unless the creditor also meets the requirements of subparagraph (A). (C) Anti-abuse rule The exceptions under subparagraph (B) shall not apply if used for the purpose of evading, circumventing, or abusing the requirements of this Act. (3) Control The term control , with respect to a lodging establishment, means— (A) having the authority or ability to determine how the establishment is utilized