Marriott International

Lawsuits target algorithmic hotel pricing
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‘Algorithmic’ Hotel Pricing Draws Legal, Regulatory Scrutiny

Plaintiffs in several class-action lawsuits filed over the past 18 months accused hotel chains and third-party intermediaries, including STR and Amadeus, of conspiring to raise room rates. Some of them alleged anticompetitive effects from the use of sophisticated pricing algorithms. They also argued that the U.S. luxury hotel market is heavily concentrated among a few…

Megin Dressel, travel manager at Keller North America, speaking about virtual payment at the GBTA convention

Geotechnology Firm Keller Goes Old School To Scale Virtual Payment

Atlanta — Keller North America is an engineering company employing many workers who may not carry phones to job sites. They don’t have corporate-issued phones or corporate email addresses to receive communications. And no corporate cards. They often join the firm at the last minute in far-flung locales. Keller uses virtual cards for about $14…

Dispatch 11
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Dispatch 11

In April, 85 percent of more than 600 buyer and supplier respondents told GBTA they “like” or “love” working in the business travel industry. “Once you’re in it, no matter how hard you try, you don’t leave,” said GBTA VP of education and engagement Jill Koronkiewicz. “You keep coming back. It’s inclusive and welcoming; there…

Dispatch 10
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Dispatch 10

As American Airlines all but dismantles corporate sales, airline industry pundits scrutinized AA’s latest arguments about going small and emphasizing competitiveness via network and loyalty. The strategy illustrates diversification among big airlines that adds to these challenging times for corporate travel buyers. Chief commercial officer Vasu Raja on March 4 told Wall Street analysts that…

United States Courthouse, Seattle

Lawsuit Alleges Anticompetitive Acts By Business Hotels Using STR Data

Several big lodging chains and a data intermediary face allegations of unreasonable restraint of trade regarding hotel rates, in violation of antitrust regulations. A set of seven plaintiffs, seeking class-action status for untold numbers of others, accused CoStar, which owns Smith Travel Research, along with Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotels, Loews Hotels and Marriott, of…

Dispatch 7
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Dispatch 7

On the boards of a set of 14 business travel suppliers tracked by The Company Dime, female representation doubled between 2012 and 2023 to 30 percent. One of them has a woman serving as chair, the same number in that role among the group as in 2017 and 2012. The number of female CEOs in…

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