Booking.com to face rough ride

Bremen. As hotelier and CEO of prizeotel, Marco Nussbaum, was not directly heard by Booking.com, he then resorted to the means of an "open letter". In this, he accused Peter Verhoeven, Managing Director Europe, Middle East, Africa with Booking.com, of "guest pilfering". This was last week. Neither the company nor Verhoeven have reacted yet.

Duesseldorf/Cologne. Last Friday, the Higher Regional Court in Duesseldorf dismissed the appeal of HRS against a ruling of the German Federal Cartel Office. Legally substantiated, best rate clauses have finally been prohibited in Germany. However, it remains open, when the cartel office will comment on the general business terms of Booking and Expedia. Until then, there will be distorted competitive relationships among the OTAs in Germany.

Amsterdam/Brussels. Last Monday, Booking.com agreed to soften the "rate parity clause" part of its agreement with European hoteliers. Under investigation in several countries, the Amsterdam-based company seems to have moved fast in order to end EU probes. But it only seems to be a smart move.

Paris. Last November, the French Review Commission for Trade Practices urged politicians to think about a way to tax online operators commissions. Now, their concern was heard by the government: the Minister of Economy, Arnaud Montebourg is pursuing booking.com. In a French TV show, Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin found clear words about OTAs.