Wednesday, March 11, 2025 — Yesterday, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in response to a request for comments included in President Trump’s Memorandum Defending American Companies and Innovators From Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties issued on February 21, 2025.
Travel Tech’s comments emphasize the discriminatory and non-reciprocal nature of DSTs imposed by certain foreign jurisdictions. Since DSTs are imposed on marketplace activity and not companies selling directly to customers, U.S.-headquartered travel comparison platforms are disproportionately affected by these taxes, which distort competition, hinder growth, and raise travelers’ costs.
“Travel Tech’s member companies connect millions of travelers with hundreds of thousands travel service providers across the globe. They support travel service providers in the sale of their quickly-expiring goods, such as hotel rooms or airline tickets on a particular day and time,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech. “Yet Digital Services Taxes are only imposed on travel comparison platforms, not the travel service providers, even though they are selling the same exact goods. DSTs unfairly undermine the transparency and competition that Travel Tech members offer to travelers.”
The letter also highlights Travel Tech’s concerns about DSTs, including double taxation, compliance challenges, financial burden, lost revenue, and opportunities for American innovation.
These comments follow Travel Tech’s recent letter to the Trump Administration emphasizing the impacts of Global DSTs on travel technology companies, as well as another letter sent by Travel Tech to the former U.S. Trade Representative on Canada’s DST tax.
###
The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading 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.
