Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🏠 Airbnb, in response to New York's September 2023 registration law cutting over 18,000 listings, is investing $5 million to support pro-homesharing candidates in NYC and state offices in 2025. The law, aimed at illegal rentals, has cost Airbnb millions in revenue, prompting the company's state-specific political spending, overshadowing many larger tech firms' policy influence efforts. City officials defend the law for safety, rent control, and neighborhood peace. Full details on Bloomberg (subscription required).

📝 Italy proposes a law requiring online reviewers to show ID and proof of visit, aiming to tackle fake and paid reviews. Reviewers have 15 days to post after a visit, and businesses can request removal of false or irrelevant reviews older than two years. The Italian Antitrust Authority is responsible for monitoring and fines, but the bill lacks clarity on determining fake reviews. ????????

🏠 On Jan 15, 2025, Spain announced a plan to impose a 100% tax on property purchases by non-EU residents. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez introduced the measure alongside other policies like tax exemptions for affordable housing landlords and higher taxes on tourist apartments. In 2023, non-EU residents bought around 27,000 homes in Spain, often for speculative purposes. The tax aims to increase housing availability for Spaniards, with details on implementation yet to be disclosed.

🏨 On Jan 14, 2025, SFGATE reported an investigation revealing booking sites like Expedia and Booking.com charging San Franciscans up to $500 more for hotel rooms. A room at Manhattan's Public Hotel was $829 for San Francisco users while Phoenix and Kansas City travelers saw $318. The price disparity is based on IP addresses, with a VPN potentially saving hundreds. Legal yet hidden price discrimination depends on location, not incognito mode.

📌 On Jan 14, 2025, the DOJ filed a lawsuit in New York aiming to block Amex GBT's $570 million acquisition of CWT, citing concerns over potential price hikes, limited choices for clients, and stifled innovation. The deal would merge the two largest travel management companies. The DOJ's action challenged Amex GBT's fifth competitor acquisition since 2018. Large corporations depend on these "mega" companies for extensive global travel services. Amex GBT criticized the DOJ's timing, suggesting the Biden administration might not intervene after the Trump administration's term.

🚬 Over 532 Britons swindled out of £370,000 by fraudsters via hacked hotel accounts on Booking.com as of Jan 13, 2025. Scammers using sophisticated phishing attacks impersonate brands, sending fake emails requesting payment details. Police highlight no Booking.com breach but advise vigilance against unexpected emails or messages regarding reservations. Booking.com stresses they never request payment information through unsecured channels. Deputy Head of Action Fraud, Adam Mercer, urges holidaymakers to be wary of compromised hotel accounts.

📦 GetYourGuide, on Jan 8, 2025, proposed new ad modules to the European Commission, accusing Google Travel Ads of violating the Digital Markets Act by merging providers in a single ad, limiting competition. The suggested format showcases one advertiser with multiple tours, countering Google's multi-vendor, single-product displays. The Commission's ruling on Google's compliance is forthcoming.

📝 On January 8, 2025, eDreams was reprimanded by the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading ads featuring "Puerto Rico sustainable destination" and "discover our sustainable trips" claims made last summer. The ASA banned the ads, instructing eDreams to ensure that future environmental claims are clear and substantiated, emphasizing that absolute claims require substantial evidence. This action reflects a broader initiative to address environmental advertising in the travel sector.