Otas

UKHospitality reiterates calls to ban rate parity clauses following Which? research

03-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Research revealing it’s often cheaper to book hotel rooms directly, rather than online, has led to renewed calls for a ban on rate parity clauses used by Online Travel Agents (OTAs).

Hotel booking sites to end "misleading" sales tactics

06-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

Six major hotel booking sites have agreed to stop using “misleading” sales tactics such as pressure selling following a probe by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The battle of the bookings: How hotels can work with, not against OTAs

12-Oct-2016 By Hannah Thompson & Emma Eversham

As the industry gears up for two major hotel events in the next few weeks, experts have agreed that online travel agents (OTAs) may not be the ‘necessary evil’ they are made out to be, and may actually offer many features designed to help, rather than...

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How hotels can remain compliant following CMA ruling on OTA rate parity

26-Oct-2015 By Charles Livingstone

Following last month's decision by the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) to close its investigations into rate parity agreements between hotels and online travel agents (OTAs), Charles Livingstone, a partner at law firm Brodies LLP, gives his top...

Emails and mobile key to smart direct marketing

21-Oct-2014 By Melodie Michel

Hotels can reducing the cost of acquiring new customers by implementing smart direct marketing techniques, according to speakers at the Independent Hotel Show.

Independent hotels still unhappy with OTAs

17-Feb-2014 By Carina Perkins

Independent hoteliers believe online travel agents (OTAs) are hindering their own marketing activities, and would like to see stricter controls on commission levels, according to a survey from umi Digital.

OFT clears way for cheaper hotel room discounts

31-Jan-2014 By Luke Nicholls

Online travel agents (OTAs) and hotels will now be able to offer greater discounts on online bookings after an investigation from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) into competition practices.

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How hotels can get the best from OTAs

06-Nov-2013 By Emma Eversham

Hoteliers often call Online Travel Agents (OTAs) such as booking.com, Expedia and LateRooms ‘a necessary evil’ as they help to market and sell bedrooms, yet in doing so take a considerable chunk of the business’s bottom line through commission.

Hotels start fighting back against OTAs

22-Oct-2013 By Emma Eversham

Hotel groups are starting to fight back against the power of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) by demanding fairer play on pricing, improving the booking systems on their own websites and introducing black-out dates.