24/12/2014
Having provided accomodation for well over a decade and since the launch of many booking engines and related travel sites, I have seen the fraud and corruption on the internet grow. I'm glad to see that at least the Italian authorities have gotten wise and started to do something about it. I'm looking forward to the introduction of laws that will control what booking engines are allowed to charge, as often the booking engines make more than the accomodation provider. If you can contact an accomodation provider directly, then do them and yourself a favor and do that. Be aware that the booking engines each pay millions of dollars each year to Google, for advertising and positioning to sto you being able to find the website and make direct contact with accomodation suppliers.
Italy's competition watchdog fines travel website Tripadvisor €500,000 (£392,000) for publishing misleading information in its reviews.