Priceline Group CEO ‘Doesn’t Appreciate’ Hotel Chains’ Direct-Booking Moves- Darren Huston

The argument of Priceline Group CEO Darren Huston is that chains are shooting themselves in the foot — and their properties aren’t happy — when the chains offer lower rates on their own websites because then their listings on Booking.com won’t convert as well as they should. But as Huston says in a different context, perhaps the hotels would reply that they are “playing the long game.”

With hotel chains such as Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International making a major push for direct bookings and offering loyalty program members lower rates than they give to online travel agencies, Priceline Group CEO DarrenHuston isn’t happy about some of these moves.

“I don’t appreciate some of the actions that are taken on a chain level sometimes … ” Huston said during Priceline’s fourth quarter earnings call February 17. However, Huston characterized Booking.com’s relationships with hotels as “tight.”

The comments came in response to a question about Hilton Worldwide getting more aggressive in its marketing and chains becoming more stingy in giving sites such as Priceline’s Booking.com last-room availability.

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