Yes, again with Booking… and no, it’s not for the best.
I know, I have already badmouthed Booking.com before… and I will continue to do so. Because even though I hate to admit it: I need them. And that’s the worst thing. Because even if it’s not coherent, if you’re not on Booking, you lose bookings. It’s as simple as that. That’s all there is to it.
And we swallow. We swallow abusive commissions. We swallow unequal conditions. We swallow with being squeezed to the last euro, even if you have your own website, without commissions, with cheaper prices, all legal and with their taxes up to date.
Why is that? Purely for convenience.
Because most people prefer not to make even a phone call. Nor enter the accommodation website. Because yes, it’s easier to enter dates in Booking and that’s it. And I get it, I really do, if you’re passing through, in the middle of a route, and you need something quick. Okay, I buy that scenario.
But for your summer vacation? Easter? A long weekend you’ve been planning for weeks? You really can’t take a minute to check if that accommodation has its own website? To call directly if it’s a small place?
Because I’m telling you, as Jesus Christ: 95% of the accommodations have cheaper prices on their website than on Booking. Check it out. Check it out. And if you don’t, at least be aware that you are fattening the pockets of the usual ones… and impoverishing the usual ones.
And note: I understand that big hotels or chains use Booking. They probably have different agreements. Surely they do not pay that 17% commission. But what’s really shocking is that traditional travel agencies -such as El Corte Inglés, yes, I say it with name and surname- also work like this.
Let me give you a real example: a friend of mine who has just retired was given a travel voucher by his colleagues. He called El Corte Inglés to redeem it and asked to come to my accommodation. And what did the agency do? He booked through Booking. They didn’t even call me. Nor did they contact me directly. Nothing.
The result? I receive a Booking reservation for a client who wanted to come because he already knew me. Good thing his name was familiar to me… otherwise I could have had a direct booking and a Booking booking for the same dates, with all the hassle that entails.
This is not efficiency. This is passivity. And in this case, from an agency that should be defending the customer and the local supplier.
Here is some data, so you can see the size of the monster:
Revenues and employees in 2023:
- Booking Holdings: $21.4 billion | 23,600 employees
- Expedia Group: $12.8 billion | 17,100 employees
- Airbnb: $9.92 billion | 6,907 employees
And beware: these are only commissions. Booking’s total turnover exceeds $200,000 million. And where are they taxed? Outside. Of course, there are always better tax havens.
Is it fair?
I will continue to have my website. I will continue to offer the best price there. And I will continue to pay taxes here. But as long as we keep feeding the beast by not filling in four pieces of information or making a call, everything will remain the same.
From MasTorrencito we wish you a good day and may your dogs be with you!!!!
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If you want, you can see our vouchers for weekends, retirees vouchers, at an incredible price… go to www.mastorrencito.com or if you want you can read more history and anecdotes that have happened to us in MasTorrencito… Click here … https://mastorrencito.com/en/
