Call for EU to probe hotel loyalty schemes
A leading independent hotelier has called on the European Union to investigate the ‘unethical’ way in which major chains win customer loyalty.
Niels Pedersen, managing director of UK representation-to-reservations company Supranational Hotels, said loyalty ‘bribes’ of gifts and free flights amount of unfair competition with smaller, one-off properties unable to compete.
He claimed many business travellers are going out of their way to stay in unsuitable properties because of the practice.
“I believe this freebie-mania amounts to unfair competition and that the EU should step up its work to challenge this distortion of the market,” Pedersen said. “When executives become hooked on giveaways they do not always choose hotels that offer the best tariff or are in the most sensible places.”
He said the “personal interest” of business travellers come before what is best for their company with many forking out more simply to pick up free gifts.
Pedersen’s comments came at the launch of Sky hotels, a new sub brand of Supranational which the company say offers low cost GDS access for smaller properties in less well-known locations.
Supranational has 1200 member hotels in 75 countries.
Report by Steve Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season