Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🏨 HOTREC's 2024 Hotel Distribution Study highlights the dominance of Booking.com, which now holds a 71% market share, up 10% over the past decade. European hotels increasingly depend on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), with direct bookings on the decline. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to address this imbalance by implementing fair digital rules for a more equitable industry, potentially enabling hotels to offer better rates on their own channels. Key stats show OTA undercut prices in 40% of cases and electronic distribution accounts for 45% of overnight stays booked online. The study was conducted by HOTREC and HES-SO Valais Wallis, analyzing data from over 3,000 European hotels.

🗑 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1524 into law on June 29, exempting restaurants from SB 478's junk fee ban effective July 1. The law, introduced by State Sen. Bill Dodd, mandates restaurants to disclose service fees and their purposes upfront on menus. Supported by the California Restaurant Association, the exemption applies to restaurants, bars, and food services, requiring clear fee displays within a year of the law’s implementation.