Duff on Hospitality Law

Our weekly Online Travel Update for the week ending December 1, 2023, is below.  This week’s Update features of variety of stories – resort fees, potential new EU traveler regulations and Ryanair’s continued pursuit of OTAs.  Enjoy.

• • New Traveler Rights Proposed in EU. Privacy and data security, competition and now, traveler rights . . .  Our friends at the EU Commission have been busy.  The latest from the EU Commission proposes changes to existing traveler regulations, including free air travel for those accompanying persons with disabilities, deposit limitations on package travel and guaranteed refunds for expired travel vouchers.  We will continue to keep an eye on these proposed changes in the months ahead. 
  • Add Massachusetts to List of States Seeking to Regulate So-Called Junk Fees. Not to be outdone by her contemporaries in California, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced this past week new regulations requiring hoteliers (and others) to display the “true” price of a night’s stay.  The proposed regulations will now be the subject of a public hearing on December 20, after which the AG can decide whether to move forward with putting the regulations into effect with or without changes coming out of the public comments.  My bet is on the rules becoming effective. 
  • Ryanair’s War with OTAs Continues. In the latest salvo in the ongoing war between Ryanair and OTAs, Ryanair’s CEO called out those OTAs that allegedly charge travelers “unjustified fees and charges.”  OTAs making the illustrious list include Kiwi.com, lastminute.com, Opodo and eDreams.  Ryanair went on to accuse the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of ignoring OTAs’ “rampant internet piracy and anti-consumer mis-selling.”  Earlier this year, some of the largest OTAs (Expedia and Booking.com) sent letters to these same UK authorities accusing Ryanair of “invasive, unnecessary and unfair treatment” of their customers.  So, what’s the real motivation behind these complaints by Ryanair?  Is it simply a bizarre form of direct booking campaign?   Or is someone finally drawing a line with certain OTAs and calling out their practices?  Are there lessons here for hoteliers?
  • Who Says Amazon Isn’t into Travel?  Just ask American Airlines, IHG, Choice and Carnival Cruise Lines, all of which participated in Amazon’s self-proclaimed first-ever Cyber Week Travel Deals.  Users interested in the marketed offers were re-directed to the applicable supplier’s website to complete the booking.