TripAdvisor under scrutiny in Italy
TripAdvisor is under scrutiny in Italy following complaints from consumers as well as hotel and restaurant owners.
Competition regulators are looking into possible fraudulent ratings of establishments on the influential travel and dining review website – either unjustified criticism by rivals or owners posting fake praise. They want to ensure that the website is doing enough to make sure fake reviews are weeded out immediately.
Another worry is that the site may not clarify the difference between information provided independently by travellers and the business profiles that hotels and restaurants pay to get published on the website. In the past, there have been incidents involving restaurant and hotel owners in some countries, who reported that customers threatened to write bad reviews unless given upgrades or freebies.
In addition the Italians have opened an investigation into online booking websites Expedia and Booking.com.
The competition watchdog’s concern is that travellers are not getting the cheapest deals, as the company’s agreements with hotels may limit the offering of better prices through other online services, or even a hotel’s own website.
Expedia said it believes it is in compliance with the law. The parent company of Booking.com did not comment.
TripAdvisor is under scrutiny in Italy following complaints from consumers as well as hotel and restaurant owners.
Competition regulators are looking into possible fraudulent ratings of establishments on the influential travel and dining review website – either unjustified criticism by rivals or owners posting fake praise. They want to ensure that the website is doing enough to make sure fake reviews are weeded out immediately.
Another worry is that the site may not clarify the difference between information provided independently by travellers and the business profiles that hotels and restaurants pay to get published on the website. In the past, there have been incidents involving restaurant and hotel owners in some countries, who reported that customers threatened to write bad reviews unless given upgrades or freebies.
In addition the Italians have opened an investigation into online booking websites Expedia and Booking.com.
The competition watchdog’s concern is that travellers are not getting the cheapest deals, as the company’s agreements with hotels may limit the offering of better prices through other online services, or even a hotel’s own website.
Expedia said it believes it is in compliance with the law. The parent company of Booking.com did not comment.