Six online booking platforms will be forced to abandon a series of sales and pricing practices deemed misleading following an investigation.
The platforms in question are Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, Ebookers, and Trivago, investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK, which took action following complaints regarding hidden fees, misleading discounts, and various tactics used to pressure customers into booking a room as quickly as possible.
The platforms are now required to indicate the actual number of people looking at an offer at that moment, to abandon misleading discounts and erroneous comparisons, such as comparing the rate for a luxury apartment with that of a double room.
Additionally, all platforms must display the full taxes imposed on customers, including hidden or additional fees charged by accommodation units.
All changes must be introduced by September 1, 2019, at the latest.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Which booking platforms are affected by these changes?
The platforms involved are Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, Ebookers, and Trivago.
What specific practices were deemed misleading?
The investigation targeted hidden fees, misleading discounts, false price comparisons, and pressure tactics regarding availability.
When is the deadline for implementing these changes?
All identified platforms must implement the required changes by September 1, 2019.