“We urge you to hold hearings on the duopolistic practices of Expedia and Trip Advisor,” states the petition. “Since Expedia bought the host of vacation home rental website of Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO), they have bullied the small businesses of vacation home renters. They have sought to take over the control of our properties, and they have imposed a 9% to 12% booking fee on our renters.”
The petition was initiated by a group of vacation home owners who list on Expedia-owned HomeAway and TripAdvisor Vacation Rental sites and is led by Bunnie Riedel who wrote, “Not only does the petition call for the treatment of homeowners to be investigated but also the treatment of travelers.”
Directed at the Senate Judiciary Committee and its Chair, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, the petition urges the committee to hold hearings on the issue of collusion, bullying and antitrust tactics of these two companies toward vacation home owners.
Airbnb was not included in the petition, even though its fees and policies mirror TripAdvisor and Expedia.
Read the entire petition here.
This is not like firing your poor gardner…….it will take time for these metasearch types to destroy each other with intense price competition…..the more metaserch, the cheaper prices will become….does anyone believe travel property pros at market risk will continue to pay up to 20% to those in skivies in mom’ s basement….be patient the hammer is coming-
Biggest change in our area…last year 94 vacation rentals, this year 296 vacation rentals. Many rentals have misleading locations and amenities. True long term professionals buried in the morass consumers face…296 rentals makes for blood shot eyes and carpal syndrome from shucking mouses.
The shakeout will be a historic real estate segment balloon, those with debt service will be gone, those who survive face intense regulation and dramatic increase in operating costs ala marketing and faux amenity chasing-
And an even greater Sage replied “I ain’t got time for that.” If you’re smart, you’ll read the comments below the petition and realize that Expedia, Trip Advisor, and AirBnB have stepped in it big time.
People can walk with their feet and they are.
Good luck to ya on that new business model.