The UK Bed & Breakfast Association is taking on the might of the big American online travel agents. The association, which represents thousands of B&Bs and guest houses, has lodged five formal complaints with the Competition and Markets Authority.
David Weston, chairman of the association, claimed that the relationship between B&Bs and global agents was “unequal and unfair, at times verging on the abusive”.
He singled out Priceline, which owns Booking.com and Kayak, and Expedia, the owner of Hotels.com, which together control 80 per cent of the market. He alleged that they deceived consumers with false discounts and pointed to an example of a hotel in Bath on Booking.com which bore a prominent red flash stating “-41% TODAY!” when there was no discount that day.
A Booking.com spokesman said: “Properties choose to list [with us] because we can generate significant business. There is no contract or obligation for properties to use Booking.com — ever.”