On Friday, September 29th, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) submitted comments in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on a Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials.
In its comments, Travel Tech details its members’ significant investments in robust trust and safety operations to protect the reliability of the reviews appearing on their platforms. Travel Tech expresses its support for the Commission’s efforts in the proposed rule to target those intent on committing fraud through fake or deceptive reviews.
“FTC has achieved the right balance in its proposed rule to target bad actors while preserving industry flexibility to develop innovative and effective solutions that will help to maintain consumer confidence in reviews,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO. “Travel Tech members invest significant resources in robust trust and safety operations to protect the reliability of the reviews appearing on their platforms.”
Examples of Travel Tech members’ commitments to protecting travelers from fraudulent reviews include:
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
On Monday, January 9, 2023, the Travel Technology Association filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the value of first-hand, timely traveler reviews. The comments, in response to FTC’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, focus on how consumers benefit from the ability to make informed choices when considering travel plans.
The comments state in part that “…Reviews or other quality rankings are often incorporated into search results to help consumers find, compare, assess, and book travel-related services based on a variety of factors, including value, quality, and safety. Consumers greatly value these services, and they are a key driver for travel planning and decision-making…”
In the filing, Travel Tech also encourages the FTC to “…utilize its existing authority to combat bad actors that employ the increasingly nefarious paid review-generation sites…” or “click farms.”
Click here to review the filing.
Tax has a disproportionate and outsized impact on travel tech industry July 24, 2024 – Today, Travel Tech sent a formal letter to Ambassador Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, strongly urging the Biden Administration to take decisive action in response to Canada’s newly implemented digital services tax (DST), given its outsized impact on […]
