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.
Spanish Hoteliers Cry Foul
("Hotels in Spain sue Booking.com for 'abusive
practices' – '40% more than real price',"
June 22, 2021 via Daily Express)
The Madrid Hotel Business Association recently announced that it
had made claims against Booking.com to the Spanish competition
authority, asking the authority to investigate the online travel
agency's practices. The claims center around
Booking.com's rate parity requirements (which the Association
alleges result in booking prices 40 percent higher than its
members' own prices), and the degree of control that
Booking.com's website wields over the hotels' guests
– booking management and (now) payments. The
Association's complaints came on the heels of similar claims
made by the Spanish Association of Hotel Directors.
Recently Passed House Bill Could Significantly Affect Google's Travel Products
(There Is A Good Chance Google Travel's Ambitions Are
About To Be Reined In, Legislatively," June 24, 2021 via Skift
Travel News) (subscription may be required)
Last week's passage of the American Choice and Innovation
Online Act by a House committee could ultimately force some major
changes at Google, Facebook and other online platforms. Under
the Act, the platforms would be prohibited from providing
preferential treatment to their products, services and businesses
over those of their competitors. Presumably (though the Act
does not specifically state), the Act would apply to Google
Flights, Google Hotels and Google Things To Do. If passed, the Act
would represent a victory for many of Google's biggest critics
(and customers), TripAdvisor and Expedia. The Act still
requires consideration and approval by the full House and Senate
before becoming effective.
Google Delays Rollout of Controversial Third-Party Cookie Policy
("Google delays plan to bar tracking cookies,"
June 24, 2021 via Washington Post)
Congratulations to all the digital marketers out there, you now
have a little longer to prepare for Google's planned policy of
blocking third-party tracking cookies. The recently announced
decision by Google extends commencement of the policy until late
2023. Note that no similar postponement has been announced by
Apple.
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