Articles tagged “eu”

The coronavirus has hit Europe hard, but the region will continue to receive accolades as the largest destination and largest source market for many years to come. Let's brush up on our understanding of European travelers, and see how COVID-19 has impacted their travel patterns.

Booking.com has prided itself on being a household name in its European home base, but will have a tough time avoiding a European Commission designation of gatekeeper. Such stature could bring increased restrictions.

Booking.com's message to European regulators? Don't lump us in with Google when you go after Big Tech. It's so rare to see any public dustup between Google and Booking.com even though there have long been competitive tensions behind the scenes.

Even as America reopens, its failed pandemic response means that tourists will be crossing its borders in and out of it much less for a while to come.

The European single market is a sacred thing and anyone caught trying to divide it up like the old days is liable to be on the receiving end of a punishment. In this case, Meliá's cooperation with the investigation has helped cut its fine.

Google has argued for years that its boxed-up and featured hotel, flight, and restaurant results are highlighted because they provide users with the "best answers." But in Europe, regulators may have pushed Google to acquiesce, offering its competitors some air time in its featured results by testing direct links.

What will happen with Brexit is still anyone's guess. But the end of the "freedom of movement" — which is the most likely outcome in the event of any Brexit deal or no deal — will present existential hiring challenges for the tourism sector's labor force.

Once again — and this time it's the issue of pricing transparency in alternative lodging — European regulators are out in front of their counterparts in other parts of the world, including those in the United States. Travelers shouldn't have to be detectives in trying to figure out what their lodging tab will be.

After granting a Brexit extension, EU leaders urged the UK not to waste this extra time – but that is precisely what politicians have done. Talk of leaving without a deal has grown in recent weeks and that should terrify travel businesses, even those who would enjoy a boost in inbound visitors.