UK's Competition Authority to Investigate Hotel Booking Sites

[engine]

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has is to investigate hotel booking sites and the methods used to ensure consumers are not being misled.

The investigation will examine areas such as hidden charges, search results, and discount claims.

The investigation is to include when aspects such as when searching for a hotel on these sites, is the site at the top really the best deal for the consumer, or at the top because of the level of commission the booking site receives.

[bbc.co.uk...]

[piatkow]

The problem that I have is that these sites dominate the SERPS, often offering locations that don't relate to the enquiry, pushing independent hotels' sites down to page 2 if they are lucky, more likely page 3 or lower.

[IanTurner]

The top sites have gotten very slick with their techniques.

I do like the concept that a website is using high pressure selling when the user is completely in control. It'll be interesting to see the outcome of this one.

[engine]

They do dominate, piatkow, but i guess they are also very popular.
The pressure selling techniques and commissions are going to be investigated. Just like the other comparison sites, there's a questionmark over the practices.

[stever]

"The investigation is to include when aspects such as when searching for a hotel on these sites, is the site at the top really the best deal for the consumer, or at the top because of the level of commission the booking site receives."

I do hope, he said with a heavy dollop of sarcasm, that they apply the same reasoning to supermarkets, financial institutions, etc.

If the rest of the business world wants a good course on how to sell things to people online, Booking.com and Amazon provide classic learning experiences.

[martinibuster]

If it's a comparison site can't you order the results by Price? That pretty much settles it, doesn't it?

I don't trust European or American courts to understand the fine details of the industry. Their lack of understanding is what saddled the UK with that kooky cookie law.

[IanTurner]

They have already investigated the insurance comparison sites - and not much happened, there was talk of one site being singled out for further investigation but I haven't any more on that yet.

[engine]

Their lack of understanding is what saddled the UK with that kooky cookie law.

Actually, it's a European directive. ;)
But, yes, it's stupid.