Sikkim travel portal talks

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Gangtok: The talks between members of the Sikkim Hotels and Restaurant Association and representatives of travel portals held here on Monday night to discuss the alleged violation of standard global business practices by companies like Goibibo and MakeMyTrip remained inconclusive.

The SHRA raised several issues concerning the hotel industry, and at the end of it, the five-member team of GoIbibo and MakeMyTrip sought a review meeting later this month to thrash out matter once and for all.

"Their team was headed by Amit Shukla and Vinay Saini. Our members raised several issues of concern, some of which could not be resolved. They have sought time to consult their higher managements and then get back to us at a review meeting to be held later this month," said Naresh Shrestha, the assistant secretary of SHRA.

The discussions were held on the five points raised by the hoteliers.

They include no coupon code discounting on hotels from OTAs, commission level to be set at 15 per cent, no performance linked bonuses without the written consent of hotels and with exit clauses, early check in, late check-out, cancellation, modification policies to be decided by the hotels, and not the online portals, and payments to be made more transparent and within 48 hours of a booking being made and not at the time of check in.

The SHRA had earlier asked its members to close all inventories from January onwards if their concerns were not addressed by goibibo and MakeMyTrip.

"Our future course of action will depend on the outcome of the review meeting slated for later this month," said Shreshta.

The representatives of the travel portals were unavailable for comment.