Good morning from a gloomy and rainy Seattle . . . It has been quite a week with back to back presentations at HSMAI’s Commercial Strategy Conference, which was held in Charlotte. A huge thanks to HSMAI for having me this...more
This week’s Update features a story detailing recent progress with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). As the EU prepares for the full implementation of the DMA (and its sister legislation, the Digital Services Act), expect...more
This week’s Update leads with an important Data Privacy Update from Eva Novick, the newest member of our firm’s privacy and data security team. If you currently operate a loyalty program (or plan to introduce one soon), I...more
2/21/2022
/ Airlines ,
Amazon ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Cruise Ships ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Data Privacy ,
Expedia ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Priceline ,
Travelers
This week’s Update begins with an interesting story detailing how evolving consumer trends of the past few years (e.g., sustainability) are making their way into travel and online travel in particular. Enjoy....more
Fall has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. It was a relatively quiet week in the online travel world. This week’s Update features a story on one of the most widely used Global Distribution Systems – Amadeus – as...more
MCR Hotels Trial Runs Attribute Pricing -
(“One of the US's largest hotel owners is charging guests $25 to use the swimming pool and $20 to check in early — but is cutting room prices in return,” August 18, 2021 via...more
9/27/2021
/ Airlines ,
Antitrust Litigation ,
Capital Raising ,
FinTech ,
Hotels ,
Keyword Advertising ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Rebates ,
Startups ,
Travelers ,
UK
This week’s Update features a variety of stories, including details on the recent change in leadership at Booking.com in the Asia-Pacific region. Enjoy....more
7/6/2021
/ Airlines ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Booking.com ,
Competition Authorities ,
Cookies ,
Expedia ,
Google ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Rate Parity Agreement ,
Sales & Distribution Agreements ,
Travelers
This week’s Update features important updates on the status of rate parity in the EU and introduces yet again, new tools by Google for safety conscious travelers. Suppliers Come and Go on Google’s Short-Term Rental Platform ...more
Luxury-Goods Makers Making the Case for Permissible Distribution Controls -
(“New EU online-sales rules should step up fight against free-riders, luxury-goods makers say,” MLex Insight on Jan 31, 2020)
Why, you might...more
2/11/2020
/ Airlines ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Hotels ,
Luxury Goods ,
Online Distribution ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
South Korea ,
Travelers
South Korean Competition Authority Takes a Hard Look at Parity -
(“Comment: Use by online-travel agencies of MFN clauses under study by South Korean antitrust watchdog,” MLex Insight on Dec 5, 2019)
South Korea’s Fair...more
12/23/2019
/ Antitrust Investigations ,
Booking.com ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Expedia ,
Fair Trade Commissions ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Price Transparency ,
Rate Parity Agreement ,
South Korea ,
Travelers ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
Indian Online Travel Agent Joins Ranks of Those Being Investigated for Potential Consumer Abuses -
(“MakeMyTrip faces battery of allegations of unfair business practices following merger,” MLex Market Insight on Nov 1,...more
Ettsa demands Europe-wide harmonisation of hotel booking rules -
Travel Weekly (UK) - News on Aug 30, 2019 -
The European technology and Travel Services Association (Ettsa) has demanded EU regulators enforce tighter...more
This week’s Update highlights two additional countries’ efforts to investigate alleged abuses by powerful global online platforms, including widely used online travel platforms. Enjoy....more
7/5/2019
/ Antitrust Investigations ,
Booking.com ,
CEOs ,
Competition ,
E-Commerce ,
Expedia ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Sales Commissions ,
Startups ,
Travelers
U.S. Circuit Court Deals a Blow to Short-Term Platforms -
("Airbnb Loses Major Fight Over California City's Rental Law," Bloomberg Quint - Stories, March 13, 2019)
In somewhat of a surprise ruling issued last week, the...more
3/25/2019
/ Acquisitions ,
AirBnB ,
Appeals ,
Communications Decency Act ,
Free Speech ,
Google ,
Homeaway ,
Hotels ,
Local Ordinance ,
Online Distribution ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Rental Property ,
Short-Term Lease ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Legislation ,
Technology Sector ,
Travelers ,
Vacation Rentals
Sales Principles Introduced for Online Booking Sites in the UK -
("Hotel Booking Sites Get Consumer-law Compliance Principles from CMA," MLex, March 1, 2019) (subscription required)
By September 1, 2019, hotel booking...more
3/11/2019
/ AirBnB ,
Airlines ,
Booking.com ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Hotels ,
Online Distribution ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Reviews ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Partnerships ,
Price Transparency ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Travelers ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Yelp
This week’s Update includes a report on the EU Commission’s widespread examination of online platforms’ pricing practices and an update on the much-publicized standoff between United and Expedia. Enjoy....more
3/4/2019
/ Amazon ,
E-Commerce ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Expedia ,
Google ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Joint Venture ,
Online Platforms ,
Partnerships ,
Price Transparency ,
Rental Property ,
Technology Sector ,
Travelers ,
United Airlines
This week’s Update features a heavy dose of Airbnb as it celebrates a milestone. Enjoy....more
2/4/2019
/ AirBnB ,
Airlines ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Business Travel ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Discount Pricing ,
Hotels ,
Military Service Members ,
Online Platforms ,
Partnerships ,
Predictive Analytics ,
Priceline ,
Travelers
Voice-assisted devices (a/k/a smart speakers) feature prominently in this week’s Update. Enjoy....more
1/21/2019
/ Airlines ,
American Airlines ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Blockchain ,
Breach of Contract ,
Business Travel ,
Competition Authorities ,
Connected Items ,
European Commission ,
Expedia ,
Google ,
Hotels ,
Logos ,
Online Platforms ,
Partnerships ,
Settlement ,
Smart Devices ,
Technology Sector ,
Trademark Infringement ,
Travelers
Regulation of Large Online Platforms is Coming to Japan -
("Online platforms may face stricter rules, enforcement in Japan, panel says, MLex, November 5, 2018)
Following up on a story (and prediction) included in last...more
11/19/2018
/ Booking.com ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Google ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Hyatt ,
Japan ,
Merchants ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Travelers ,
TripAdvisor ,
Vacation Rentals
Expedia Expands Its Voice-Activation Résumé -
("Expedia Brings Voice Bookings, Cancellations and Rewards to Google Assistant," Skift Travel News, October 9, 2018)
It was less than two years ago that we featured...more
10/22/2018
/ AirBnB ,
Algorithms ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Data Collection ,
Expedia ,
Google ,
Hotels ,
Internet Retailers ,
Joint Venture ,
Online Platforms ,
Personal Data ,
Pricing ,
Technology Sector ,
Travelers ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Vacation Rentals ,
Virtual Reality
And You Thought Today’s Health and Safety Requirements Were Tough -
("China Prepares Unprecedented Online Tourism Regulation," Stories, September 28, 2018)
Those of you who have negotiated online travel agency...more
10/8/2018
/ Booking.com ,
China ,
Expedia ,
Facebook ,
Health and Safety ,
Hilton ,
Hotels ,
Innovation ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marketing ,
New Regulations ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Partnerships ,
Rental Property ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Tourism ,
Travelers ,
TripAdvisor
This week’s Update is heavily focused on the EU and its recent enforcement activities....more
7/30/2018
/ AirBnB ,
Android ,
Booking.com ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Fines ,
Google ,
Integration ,
Investment ,
Manufacturers ,
Mobile Apps ,
On-Demand Services ,
Online Platforms ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Rental Property ,
Search Engines ,
Short-Term Lease ,
Surcharges ,
Terms and Conditions ,
Travelers
As our Update reveals, Booking Holdings monopolized the distribution headlines this past week....more
This week’s Update features a variety of stories, including an additional story on last week’s announcement by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority regarding its recent commenced enforcement efforts against several...more
7/16/2018
/ AirBnB ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Booking.com ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Price-Fixing ,
Travelers ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Website Accessibility
This week’s Update features a number of “legal” updates to stories we have been following for some time. Enjoy....more
7/9/2018
/ Acquisitions ,
Advertising Standards Authority ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Litigation ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Established Business Relationship ,
European Parliament ,
Hotels ,
Keyword Search ,
Misleading Statements ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Online Platforms ,
Online Travel Vendors ,
Software Developers ,
Startups ,
Travelers ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Websites