Booking.com recently notified its partner hotels that they will have to exclusively use a virtual card to secure and confirm their reservations, excluding the version of the required deposits. This unilateral directive imposes an unjustified burden on hoteliers, as it requires them to accept the increased commission rates of these virtual cards in order to limit the risk of non-show customers. This virtual card commission rate is in addition to the existing substantial taxes already paid to Booking.com.
This directive unfairly violates the legal right of hotels, as according to Greek law, reservations are secured by deposit to protect against losses and last minute cancellations and no-show customers.The ramifications of this decision are of great importance, as they not only limit the autonomy of hoteliers but also undermine their economic viability and operational flexibility.
The gravity of the situation has been given to the urging of Booking.com to reconsider their stance. Collective dialogue and fair solutions are essential to maintain the symbiotic relationship between Booking.com and its hotel partners. Failure to do so may force us to seek resources to evaluate the legality of this decision through appropriate channels, thereby protecting the rights and interests of our members.
