The newly formed coalition of UK online travel agencies aims to advocate for consumer benefits and policy innovations.
- Comprising 11 key industry players, the group seeks to influence policies related to digital markets and consumer protection.
- By collaborating with government and regulators, the coalition aims to enhance consumer choice and boost economic growth.
- A spokesperson highlighted the importance of digital innovation and the necessity for updated consumer protections.
- Industry leaders welcome the new group’s efforts, emphasizing the strength of a unified voice in lobbying efforts.
Online Travel UK, an association of major online travel companies, has declared its intention to advocate for the significant benefits that the travel sector provides to consumers and the economy. This newly established group has outlined its primary policy focus areas and launched a new identity and website to bolster its advocacy efforts.
The association is composed of 11 prominent members, including well-known online travel agencies, metasearch platforms, and rail ticketing sites. The members have come together as a unified voice in the industry to promote pro-consumer policy and drive digital innovation within the travel sector. This collaborative effort includes influential companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia Group, among others.
The chief aim of the coalition is to engage with government bodies, policymakers, and regulators to champion an innovative, competitive, and consumer-focused travel industry. Acknowledging the lessons from the pandemic, the coalition emphasises the opportunity to modernise consumer protections and enhance the transparency and competition that online travel companies offer, which ultimately benefits both consumers and the broader economy.
A spokesperson for the group emphasised the potential benefits of digitalisation and collaboration with transport and accommodation suppliers, noting that these efforts could yield rewards for both consumers and the UK economy. The spokesperson also called on the new government to swiftly implement new competition rules for digital markets, which would increase consumer choice and position the UK as a hub for travel-tech innovation.
This initiative has been met with support from various industry leaders, who recognise the potential for positive change. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, welcomed the formation of the lobbying group, pointing out that the representation of online travel companies highlights the importance of having more voices contributing to the conversation about the travel industry’s value in the UK. She acknowledged that there will be areas of shared interest and expressed willingness to collaborate on issues of mutual concern.
As the new coalition seeks to shape the future of the UK’s travel industry through influential advocacy, the promise of increased innovation and consumer choice remains central to its mission.
