OYO harging illegal penalties: Hotel association

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 24

Punjab Hotel Association has alleged that OYO has been charging illegal penalties from the city hotels despite their decision to boycott bookings through the popular online hotel aggregator.

The hotel association had snapped ties with the OYO earlier this month over their financial arbitrariness.

Satish Arora, president of the association, said: “Hotels are still being charged “illegal” penalties for not entertaining customers’ bookings through the hotel aggregator OYO. There are no proper policies in place to stop them.”

He demanded the government to introduce some policy for online hotel aggregators MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, OYO, and others to stop their financial arbitrariness against hoteliers across the country.

“Fair online policies, accountability are the need of the hour. Major hotel aggregators are resorting to arm-twisting of the hotels with higher and higher commissions and erratic contract changes,” he added.

Around 100 hotel-owners in the city are refusing to take bookings from major hotel aggregators including te OYO, opposing the heavy commissions they charge and the hefty discounts they offer to costomers.

“The hotel association will soon hold a state-level meet to take a call on state-ban on these hotel aggregators,” Arora added.

Over half the bookings at hotels used to come from these online portals. Even occupancy went up after tying up with major hotel aggregators like the OYO. But their terms were unfavorable,” he added.

“Hotel-owners have also demanded the cancellation of registration of these hotel aggregators across the country. Hotel aggregators should get registration as per new terms policies,” they added.

However, OYO is virtually still the part of hotel business in the city as its flex-boards are still intact on the majority of hotels’ buildings. The association told The Tribune that they will soon be removed.