This week’s Update is by far one of the most substantive Updates we’ve had in some time. Enjoy....more
9/26/2019
/ Expedia ,
Fake Reviews ,
Hidden Fees ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Mobile Apps ,
Online Reviews ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Travelers ,
TripAdvisor ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Websites ,
Wholesale
This week’s Update includes additional background information regarding the ongoing resort fee saga, which many of you requested. Enjoy....more
7/29/2019
/ Acquisitions ,
Appeals ,
Booking.com ,
Expedia ,
Fake Reviews ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Google ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Scams ,
Travelers ,
TripAdvisor
This week’s Update features a variety of topics – OTAs, short-term rentals and loyalty. Enjoy....more
7/22/2019
/ AirBnB ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Google ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Keyword Search ,
Marriott ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Rental Property ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Travelers
This week features another travel-shortened OTA & Travel Distribution Update. We will return with our regular format next week....more
5/21/2019
/ Anti-Competitive ,
Antitrust Conspiracies ,
Appeals ,
Booking.com ,
Collusion ,
Contract Terms ,
Expedia ,
False Advertising ,
Hotels ,
Market Manipulation ,
Marriott ,
Online Advertisements ,
Online Travel Vendors
While Marriott’s entrance into the vacation rental business garnered most of the attention this week (we’ve included one of the many stories written this week about Marriott’s move), a few other stories warranted inclusion in...more
5/14/2019
/ Airlines ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Contract Negotiations ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Expedia ,
Hotels ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Marriott ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Rental Property ,
Sharing Economy ,
Travelers ,
United Airlines
Is it just my generally biased view of online travel platforms or are regulators finally taking a hard look at the sometimes questionable practices of these channels? Enjoy....more
12/17/2018
/ Antitrust Violations ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Booking.com ,
Contracting Procedures ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Excessive Pricing ,
False Advertising ,
Fines ,
France ,
French Competition Authority ,
Hilton ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Misleading Impressions ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Search Engines ,
Tourism ,
Travelers ,
Trivago
Travel Agency Hit With TCPA Class Action Over Cuba Texts -
Law 360 - Cybersecurity & Privacy on Aug 10, 2018 (subscription required)
An online travel agency that arranges trips to Cuba got slapped with a proposed class...more
8/20/2018
/ Amazon ,
ATDS ,
Class Action ,
Expedia ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Rental Property ,
Smart Devices ,
TCPA ,
Telemarketing ,
Text Messages ,
Travelers
Our weekly OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending June 22, 2018 is below. This week’s Update features not one, but two stories (offering perspectives from both the hospitality and technology industries) on...more
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending June 8, 2018 is below. This week’s Update is a lengthy one and includes our sixth and final installment of our series in anti-trust challenges to hoteliers’...more
6/18/2018
/ Airlines ,
Antitrust Litigation ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Competition ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Expedia ,
Facial Recognition Technology ,
Google ,
Homeaway ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Keyword Search ,
Marriott ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Rental Property ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Technology Sector ,
Travelers
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending May 18, 2018, is below. This week’s Update features our fourth installment in our 6-part series on alleged anti-trust abuses by hoteliers arising from their...more
5/29/2018
/ Antitrust Violations ,
Class Action ,
Expedia ,
Facebook ,
Hotels ,
Japan ,
Keyword Search ,
Marriott ,
Online Distribution ,
Online Platforms ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Tourism ,
Tourists ,
Travelers ,
TripAdvisor ,
Trivago
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending April 6, 2018 is below. A variety of stories are featured in this week’s Update, including an interesting follow up story on Red Lion’s somewhat unique (and...more
4/16/2018
/ Airlines ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Austria ,
Brand ,
Competition ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Expedia ,
Fines ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Microsoft ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Price-Fixing ,
Rate Parity Agreement ,
Travelers
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending Friday, January 12, is below. This week’s Update features stories predominantly on OTAs....more
1/22/2018
/ AirBnB ,
Car Rentals ,
China ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Expedia ,
Generation Z ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Marriott ,
Mobile Apps ,
Online Distribution ,
Priceline ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Tax Penalties ,
Travelers ,
Travelocity ,
Websites