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Their stance against G’s dominance appears to be a strategic move to gain market share or leverage against a competitor, rather than a consistent commitment to open markets across the board. This selective advocacy can be perceived as opportunistic lobbying and it diminishes its moral authority.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Their stance against G’s dominance appears to be a strategic move to gain market share or leverage against a competitor, rather than a consistent commitment to open markets across the board. This selective advocacy can be perceived as opportunistic lobbying and it diminishes its moral authority.
Even an EU Parliament TRAN Committee opinion warned against “extreme interpretations” of the DMA that could degrade user experience .
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Even an EU Parliament TRAN Committee opinion warned against “extreme interpretations” of the DMA that could degrade user experience .
Consumers want convenient, informative search results. Google’s integrated maps, flight comparisons, or hotel price snippets exist because users find them useful. The op-ed implies any such vertical integration is nefarious, yet it fails to acknowledge that removing those features might harm the UX.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Consumers want convenient, informative search results. Google’s integrated maps, flight comparisons, or hotel price snippets exist because users find them useful. The op-ed implies any such vertical integration is nefarious, yet it fails to acknowledge that removing those features might harm the UX.
They explicitly accused G of "deceptive DMA (non-)compliance tactics" in June 2024. They highlighted Google's "test" of a "ten blue links" display for hotel queries, arguing it was a deliberate tactic to generate negative user feedback and political backlash, rather than a genuine compliance effort
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
They explicitly accused G of "deceptive DMA (non-)compliance tactics" in June 2024. They highlighted Google's "test" of a "ten blue links" display for hotel queries, arguing it was a deliberate tactic to generate negative user feedback and political backlash, rather than a genuine compliance effort
Perhaps the most extreme claim is that “to align with the spirit and letter of the law, Google will need to move away from offering vertical search features on the SERP” . In fact, the Commission’s DMA enforcement is about ensuring fair ranking and equal treatment, not dictating Google’s UX design.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Perhaps the most extreme claim is that “to align with the spirit and letter of the law, Google will need to move away from offering vertical search features on the SERP” . In fact, the Commission’s DMA enforcement is about ensuring fair ranking and equal treatment, not dictating Google’s UX design.
These companies now lobby against competition from Google while maintaining their own market power
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
These companies now lobby against competition from Google while maintaining their own market power
The article fails to mention that companies like Booking achieved their own dominant positions through similar strategies:
Booking became dominant in hotel bookings across Europe
Expedia consolidated numerous travel brands
Booking became dominant in hotel bookings across Europe
Expedia consolidated numerous travel brands
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The article fails to mention that companies like Booking achieved their own dominant positions through similar strategies:
Booking became dominant in hotel bookings across Europe
Expedia consolidated numerous travel brands
Booking became dominant in hotel bookings across Europe
Expedia consolidated numerous travel brands
They cite Google’s market share (90%) and its ~400 million monthly EU users while conveniently omitting the market share of their own members (Booking holds 65% market share (90% in some hotel segments), and the dominance of OTAs in Travel - some labelling the OTA market an oligopoly.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
They cite Google’s market share (90%) and its ~400 million monthly EU users while conveniently omitting the market share of their own members (Booking holds 65% market share (90% in some hotel segments), and the dominance of OTAs in Travel - some labelling the OTA market an oligopoly.
One of eu travel tech’s primary members, Booking, is itself designated as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA. Parity clauses imposed are now illegal and celebrated by SME’s, while Booking defended till the end that “parity clauses benefited consumers by providing easy access to a variety of options”.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
One of eu travel tech’s primary members, Booking, is itself designated as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA. Parity clauses imposed are now illegal and celebrated by SME’s, while Booking defended till the end that “parity clauses benefited consumers by providing easy access to a variety of options”.
Booking was fined €413M in Spain for abusing its dominance*. The same kind of “self-preferencing” EU Travel Tech now claims to oppose. Airbnb has faced numerous lawsuits in the EU: facilitating illegal rentals, failing to comply with consumer protection laws, impact on the housing market…
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Booking was fined €413M in Spain for abusing its dominance*. The same kind of “self-preferencing” EU Travel Tech now claims to oppose. Airbnb has faced numerous lawsuits in the EU: facilitating illegal rentals, failing to comply with consumer protection laws, impact on the housing market…
EU Travel Tech’s claims to represent SME and consumers, while its members impose abusive (and now illegal) parity clauses, engaging in anti-competitive practices, allow (and encourage) illegal properties to be listed on their platforms, charging 15-25% commissions…
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
EU Travel Tech’s claims to represent SME and consumers, while its members impose abusive (and now illegal) parity clauses, engaging in anti-competitive practices, allow (and encourage) illegal properties to be listed on their platforms, charging 15-25% commissions…
Despite the name, only 6 of its 16 listed members can be considered EU companies:
Airbnb 🇺🇸
Booking Holdings Inc 🇺🇸 *
eDreamsOdigeo 🇪🇺
eTraveli Group 🇪🇺
Skyscanner 🇨🇳
Amadeus 🇪🇺
American Express (GBT) 🇺🇸
Get Your Guide 🇪🇺
Lastminutecom 🇨🇭
Sabre 🇺🇸
Trainline 🇬🇧
Travelport 🇬🇧
Tripadvisor 🇺🇸
Idealo 🇪🇺
Omio 🇪🇺
Airbnb 🇺🇸
Booking Holdings Inc 🇺🇸 *
eDreamsOdigeo 🇪🇺
eTraveli Group 🇪🇺
Skyscanner 🇨🇳
Amadeus 🇪🇺
American Express (GBT) 🇺🇸
Get Your Guide 🇪🇺
Lastminutecom 🇨🇭
Sabre 🇺🇸
Trainline 🇬🇧
Travelport 🇬🇧
Tripadvisor 🇺🇸
Idealo 🇪🇺
Omio 🇪🇺
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Despite the name, only 6 of its 16 listed members can be considered EU companies:
Airbnb 🇺🇸
Booking Holdings Inc 🇺🇸 *
eDreamsOdigeo 🇪🇺
eTraveli Group 🇪🇺
Skyscanner 🇨🇳
Amadeus 🇪🇺
American Express (GBT) 🇺🇸
Get Your Guide 🇪🇺
Lastminutecom 🇨🇭
Sabre 🇺🇸
Trainline 🇬🇧
Travelport 🇬🇧
Tripadvisor 🇺🇸
Idealo 🇪🇺
Omio 🇪🇺
Airbnb 🇺🇸
Booking Holdings Inc 🇺🇸 *
eDreamsOdigeo 🇪🇺
eTraveli Group 🇪🇺
Skyscanner 🇨🇳
Amadeus 🇪🇺
American Express (GBT) 🇺🇸
Get Your Guide 🇪🇺
Lastminutecom 🇨🇭
Sabre 🇺🇸
Trainline 🇬🇧
Travelport 🇬🇧
Tripadvisor 🇺🇸
Idealo 🇪🇺
Omio 🇪🇺
The lobby group EU TravelTech published its OpEd on the same day as the initial 2 day workshop organized by the EU Commission on Alphabet's compliance with DMA law. (7th & 8th of July).
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/consultation...
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/consultation...
Consultation on the first review of the Digital Markets Act
On 3 July 2025, the Commission has launched a public consultation on the first review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Interested parties have until 24 September 2025 to submit their views.
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The lobby group EU TravelTech published its OpEd on the same day as the initial 2 day workshop organized by the EU Commission on Alphabet's compliance with DMA law. (7th & 8th of July).
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/consultation...
digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/consultation...
The recent OpEd by EU TravelTech criticizing Google's DMA compliance (and urging fines for “self-preferencing”) contains several significant contradictions, misleading claims and conflicts of interest that undermine its credibility as an objective assessment of competition policy.
July 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The recent OpEd by EU TravelTech criticizing Google's DMA compliance (and urging fines for “self-preferencing”) contains several significant contradictions, misleading claims and conflicts of interest that undermine its credibility as an objective assessment of competition policy.
“Google’s new design in Europe may reinforce big intermediaries and leave independent hotels behind”
Google is offering two options, Option A (favors OTA's) and Option B (favors hotels).
www.mlex.com/mlex/antitru...
www.smarttravel.news/el-nuevo-dis...
Google is offering two options, Option A (favors OTA's) and Option B (favors hotels).
www.mlex.com/mlex/antitru...
www.smarttravel.news/el-nuevo-dis...
El nuevo diseño de Google en Europa podría reforzar a los grandes intermediarios y dejar atrás a los hoteles independientes - Smart Travel News
Google ha propuesto recientemente un nuevo diseño para sus resultados de búsqueda en Europa con el objetivo de cumplir con la Ley de Mercados Digitales (DMA) de la Unión Europea. Sin embargo, lejos de...
www.smarttravel.news
July 9, 2025 at 6:54 AM
“Google’s new design in Europe may reinforce big intermediaries and leave independent hotels behind”
Google is offering two options, Option A (favors OTA's) and Option B (favors hotels).
www.mlex.com/mlex/antitru...
www.smarttravel.news/el-nuevo-dis...
Google is offering two options, Option A (favors OTA's) and Option B (favors hotels).
www.mlex.com/mlex/antitru...
www.smarttravel.news/el-nuevo-dis...
Google Ads AI Max for Search: The Biggest Revolution in Hotel Marketing Has Arrived
www.mirai.com/blog/google-...
www.mirai.com/blog/google-...
July 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Google Ads AI Max for Search: The Biggest Revolution in Hotel Marketing Has Arrived
www.mirai.com/blog/google-...
www.mirai.com/blog/google-...
Google’s latest move to dodge a massive EU antitrust fine? A new proposal—Option B—offering rival links below its own search boxes.
All eyes on July 7–8, when Brussels hosts the key workshop to decide its fate under the #DMA.
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
#Google #Antitrust #HotelSEO #EUtech
All eyes on July 7–8, when Brussels hosts the key workshop to decide its fate under the #DMA.
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
#Google #Antitrust #HotelSEO #EUtech
Exclusive: Google offers new proposal to stave off EU antitrust fine, document shows
Alphabet's Google has proposed fresh changes to its search results in an attempt to fend off growing criticism from rivals, a week before a key meeting that could lead to yet another EU antitrust fine, according to a document seen by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Google’s latest move to dodge a massive EU antitrust fine? A new proposal—Option B—offering rival links below its own search boxes.
All eyes on July 7–8, when Brussels hosts the key workshop to decide its fate under the #DMA.
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
#Google #Antitrust #HotelSEO #EUtech
All eyes on July 7–8, when Brussels hosts the key workshop to decide its fate under the #DMA.
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
#Google #Antitrust #HotelSEO #EUtech
