This week's Update features a number of important stories, including details of Tripadvisor's official launch of Tripadvisor Plus in the United States and an important update on the 1-800 Contacts FTC enforcement action. Enjoy.
Hopper Introduces Price Lock for Hotels
("Hopper enables commitment-free hotel price lock," June 17, 2021 via Phocus Wire)
Hopper, the mobile application that is home to the flight price freeze, flight delay protection and fully refundable air and hotel bookings, is now launching a hotel price freeze. The option allows travelers to freeze a hotel's listed rate for up to 60 days. Travelers who "freeze" a rate are protected if the rate increases (up to $100 of any increase) and benefit from any rate decrease. If the traveler proceeds with the booking, the traveler's price freeze deposit is applied to the room charge. If the traveler abandons the booking, the price freeze deposit can be applied to any future booking made within 60 days. Bookings of locked prices are always subject to availability. The new pricing functionality is available for all hotels listed on the Hopper platform. Hopper may have picked exactly the right time to introduce this new pricing product as hotels seek to drive rates coming out of the pandemic.
Expedia Doubles Down on Cruising
("Expedia Cruises look to tech in push to
be top agency in the sector," June 16, 2021 via Phocus
Wire)
For years now, I've questioned our cruise clients about the
lack of advanced online tools for cruise distribution. It
appears that Expedia and its cruise-focused travel agency, Expedia Cruises, is seeking to fill that
void. Expedia Cruises plans to introduce new technology and
content designed to provide prospective cruisers and their agents a
one-stop cruise resource. According to Greg Schulze, Senior Vice
President of Transport and Cruise at Expedia Group, Expedia's
goal is to become "the leader in digital experience and
content, the leader in supply and transparent pricing, the leader
in service and trip management." As part of the effort,
Expedia expects to launch a content-driven informational site
designed to provide cruisers information about vessels, available
amenities and services, and activities and experiences in each
port. Users of the new platform can book their cruise online or
through an agent.
Tripadvisor Officially Launches Tripadvisor
Plus
("TripAdvisor launches U.S. subscription
service, which promises big hotel discounts," June 17, 2021
via Travel Weekly; "TripAdvisor gives Plus subscription
service a full launch, adds spending partners," June 16,
2021 via Phocus Wire)
Tripaadvisor's membership based subscription program is
officially launched in the United States. and it promises big hotel
discounts.
Federal Appeals Court Overturns
1-800 Contacts Decision
("FTC Antitrust Ruling on 1-800 Contacts
Gets Overturned," June 11, 2021 via Bloomberg Law)
(subscription may be required)
Since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its ruling back in
2018, distributors seeking to avoid suppliers' requested
keyword protections have relied heavily on the FTC's case
against online contacts retailer, 1-800 Contacts. In its recent
June 11 decision, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned
the FTC's ruling stating that the FTC had failed to provide
sufficient evidence that the online retailer's agreements to
restrict or prohibit competitors' use of the retailer's
trademarks (e.g. 1-800 Contacts) in keyword bidding auctions
actually led to anti-competitive price increases. According to the
Court, the restraints contained in the online retailer's
agreements could actually have pro-competitive effects because of
their recognition and promotion of trademark (and possibly other
IP) policy. While agreements like those of 1-800 Contacts are not
immune from antitrust scrutiny, those seeking to challenge such
agreements as anticompetitive or contrary to U.S. antitrust law
will now potentially face a tougher evidentiary burden. The FTC is
reportedly now considering its options following the Court's
ruling, including a possible further appeal. A copy of the
Court's ruling is attached.
Originally published 23 June 2021.
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