- The Umih is leading a sling against Booking, about twenty hotels will increase the price of their rooms by up to 500% from July 10 to 17.
- They protest against the commissions taken by Booking, especially in this period of the Covid-19 crisis.
Anger is mounting among hoteliers in France, and more particularly among those in Avignon. The president of the Union of hotel trades and industries (Umih) of Vaucluse, Patrick Mounier, leads the sling against the online reservation platform Booking with around twenty hoteliers from Avignon. They mainly oppose commissions "at the head of the client" and wish to "educate" clients.
Why are you mad at Booking?
Booking has taken hoteliers hostage by imposing commissions on them that are considered excessive. They are not aware of digital reality, they fixed them at a time when they did it a little at the head of the customer. They range from 13 to 25% depending on the hotel, which is why we've been angry for a while. We had already tried to do actions but it always fell into the water.
Why go all the way this time?
During Covid-19 and containment, Booking obliged certain hoteliers to reimburse non-modular reservations. Basically, the hoteliers were in favor of making certain reimbursements, but given the difficult situation, this obligation is bad. Umih Nationale wrote to Booking, they never replied. They only had a videoconference, and Booking sent them in the roses.
What do you claim?
We ask for a drop in commissions to at least 5% for this summer, the period already looks very complicated with the Covid-19. That would allow us to get all around the table to open negotiations for the future.
Do you experience the same situation with other booking platforms?
We also contacted Expedia, and they answered us. Discussions have started. LeBonCoin has also just created a reservation platform for the hotel industry. They have chosen not to apply any commission until December 31 and they will be less than 10% for the rest.
What action do you intend to take to make yourself heard?
The Booking platform works on territories which prevents us from carrying out a national action. There have already been some in Ajaccio, and others are planned in Cannes. Here in Avignon, around twenty hotels will increase the prices of our rooms by 300, 400 or even 500% on the booking platform between July 10 and 17. The customer will say to himself, there is something wrong with Booking, he can redirect to other platforms or directly from us. We agree to take the risk that he goes elsewhere, we want to make Booking fold.
Is it also a way to educate your customers?
We are going to set up media actions to relearn people to book, so that they no longer necessarily go through booking platforms. When they book a night on Booking at 120 euros, we don't even get 100 euros, while the client could have it at 100 euros by booking directly with us. Customers should be aware that by booking on Booking they give more than 20 euros to a company that has no head office in France, and that does not pay taxes there.
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- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- Avignon
- Commission
- Price
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Society