Dick Smiths Fair Go

[autocoupler]

This is worth a listen to.

https://www.dicksmithfairgo.com.au/dick-smith-exposes-foreign-booking-sites-for-extorting-millions-from-australian-small-businesses-in-the-middle-of-a-drought/

[Goldseeker]

I have just finished watching the video and it really is an eye opener.

I have always booked my interstate hotels myself directly with the hotel etc and never used an agency to book.

I recommend that ALL FORUM MEMBERS watch the video to the end.

[kchan1111]

For a small family run hotel, how do they attract traffic to their own website? If I am an American tourist, how do I find out about you? Likely they have to spend some money on advertising. All that costs money too. The booking site cut is "traffic acquisition costs".

If you are a big chain, like ibis, Hilton, or Premium Inn, then they can rely on loyalty club etc. to get people in.

Running a hotel is all about yield. If a room is left empty you are not generating income. It sometimes makes sense to go to these online travel agency to optimize your yield.

Best for the hotel is after you do your research online using Booking.com, Expedia or TripAdvisor, then book directly with the hotel itself. Worst for them is if you are a repeat loyal customer and you decide to book through third party website rather than direct.

And uber and food delivery websites are just ripping workers off.

[Goldseeker]

Agree with your comment kchan1111 but I believe the whole point of Dick Smith's video is that a lot of money one pays for a room using these "help" sites goes oversea tax free.

We should bypass these booking agencies and look locally on the internet ourselves.

I will never use Ttrivago or any of these sites to find accommodation and I never have and from this point on, never will.

[runway]

All this online booking is certainly a scam total BS and Dick Smith is spot on

[runway]

Agree with your comment kchan1111 but I believe the whole point of Dick Smith's video is that a lot of money one pays for a room using these "help" sites goes oversea tax free.

We should bypass these booking agencies and look locally on the internet ourselves.

I will never use Ttrivago or any of these sites to find accommodation and I never have and from this point on, never will.

True

[kchan1111]

Good point. Just use the booking sites for reviews rather than booking. So you know what's good and bad. Tripadvisor has user photos which are more honest than the glamour shots from hotel management. They are helpful for finding out if the hotel location is seedy or noisy.

[jozk123]

ACCC takes action against Trivago over hotel price advertisements

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-action-against-trivago-over-hotel-price-advertisements

[runway]

ACCC takes action against Trivago over hotel price advertisements

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-action-against-trivago-over-hotel-price-advertisements

Excellent  :heart: