This past week (the unofficial end to summer for many of you) was a relatively busy one in the world of online travel. Highlights include: - EU (Unofficially) Kills Booking Holdings’ Planned Purchase of eTraveli. For...more
This week’s Update features a variety of stories, including the latest news on the new cottage industry of resort fee litigation and Amazon’s growing (yet understated) significance in the travel industry. Enjoy....more
This week’s Online Travel Update is below. With summer now in full swing, it is no surprise that last week was another relatively quiet week in the online travel world. Speculation continues around the Expedia / Hopper...more
For the first time, our weekly Update delves into the world of artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve tried for several months now to avoid joining the chorus of voices proselytizing about the likely effects of AI, but as the...more
As evidenced by our list of stories, it was a relatively quiet week in online travel. The Texas Attorney General’s Office and its pursuit of hotel companies over their resort fee practices garnered most of the industry’s...more
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
Hyatt Corp. was hit with a class action suit this week for allegedly violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting and storing employees’ fingerprints. This is the latest in a string of suits...more
US-CERT Warns of New Ransomware: Bad Rabbit - The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) is warning companies in the U.S. about a new ransomware dubbed “Bad Rabbit.” US-CERT stated it has received multiple...more
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending Friday, October 13, is below. This week’s Update features stories on short-term rentals (or should I say hotels?), OTAs and loyalty. I hope you enjoy....more
Hyatt Hotels Corporation recently announced that it had identified malicious software code resulting in unauthorized access to customer payment card information. Hyatt disclosed that upon investigating the incident, it...more
This week’s Update for the week ending August, 18, 2017 is below. Short-term rental regulation is featured prominently in this week’s Update...more
Our weekly OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending June 30, 2017 is below. A mix of stories in this week’s update. Airbnb Continues Its March Toward Mainstream Lodging (SHORT-TERM RENTALS) ("Airbnb signs...more
Our weekly client OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending June 16, 2017 is below. Several interesting stories this week... Price-Fixing Technology the Subject of EU Regulators [PARITY] - ("Enforcers Must...more
A hotel is a personal place, even if you share it with thousands of other people. The very obscurity in a crowd can make you feel anonymous, and the private living space allows for the most private of conversations and...more
HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), which include Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott and Westin Hotels have notified individuals who purchased food and beverages at 20 locations in 10 states and the District of Columbia that their credit card...more
After weeks of rumors regarding hotel valuations in Orange County, it is now confirmed: the Orange County Property Appraiser has made it a priority to increase both the market values and assessed values of hotels for 2015. ...more