Andrew Leigh

PUTTING AUSSIE HOTELS BACK IN CONTROL: THIRD PARTY SUPPORT

“The Accommodation Association of Australia welcomes this historic announcement from the Labor Party. Effectively this means that our industry, should the Labor Party win office, be able to finally offer the best rate directly to our customers without fear of being darkened or threatened by these big multinational online travel agents. This announcement is very welcome for our members and the industry across Australia, the winners will be the operators of small business and the public who can finally get a better deal by going direct online once this legislation is passed.”

- Richard Munro, Accommodation Association of Australia CEO.

“We were pleased to see Labor’s announcement today to ban online travel agent price parity clauses if elected to Government. Long overdue as accommodation providers and their customers are paying increasing and unsustainable commissions nearly all of which leave Australia.”

- Julian Ledger, YHA Australia CEO.

“In Australia, online booking platforms Booking.com and Expedia control up to 85 per cent of our bookings, and they are taking commissions of up to 30 per cent; a big hit to the bottom line of a small business. Addressing anti-competitive practices would level the playing field between small businesses and their multinational rivals and give consumers more choice. We are pleased Labor proposes to investigate the use of similar clauses across other platforms and industries.”

- Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

“The Labor Party’s announcement that they will ban narrow and wide rate parity is enthusiastically welcomed. This will ensure hotels and accommodation providers can set their own prices to be competitive with online travel agents.”

 - Anthony Brierley, Australian Hotels Association - ACT Branch General Manager.

ENDS

Authorised by Noah Carroll ALP Canberra.