Booking.com ends his most criticized clauses by … – Le Parisien

April 21, 2015, 12:34 | Updated: April 21, 2015, 2:52 p.m.

The hoteliers French won their showdown facing Booking.com. To end the proceedings initiated by the profession, hotel bookings site has agreed to give up most of the clauses rate parity and availability that required them, as announced by the Competition Authority.

According to the decision put online Tuesday, the commitments of the site will also apply on Italian and Swedish hotel markets.

In practice, this means that no longer prevent Booking.com hoteliers wishing to be referenced by its service to offer on other platforms reservations, or directly on their channels “offline” (on-site reservations, telephone, mail …), lower rates they offer to those on Booking.com. Hotels may not always display contrast on their own website rates lower than those of Booking.com.

“We have taken an important step, but it does not solve everything, our continuous action we will be vigilant, “responded Hervé Bécam, vice president of Umih, Senior French hotel union. “There is still some way to go (…) because what we wanted was the removal of the entire tariff parity clause,” said Jacques Barré, President of CNG (union hotel chains).

Expedia and HRS always in the sights of the Competition Authority

In addition, the hotel can also book their direct sales channels ( offline and online) a number of nights than that offered on Booking.com. These commitments into effect on July 1, 2015, are taken for 5 years. “We believe we now have a good balance, with a win / win” for both hotels and online booking platforms, said Bruno Lasserre, President of the Competition Authority.

This follows in France to a complaint filed by the Umih the main hoteliers union in July 2013 against Booking, the market leader in hotel bookings on the internet in France, but also two other major industry players, Expedia and HRS. Booking was also sued in several other European countries, as well as a proceeding in February by the Accor hotel group. The investigation against Expedia and HRS continues, further explains the Competition Authority.

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