Greg Duff

Principal|Seattle

Man smiling wearing a brown shirt against a gray background.

Phone 206.816.1470

Fax 206.464.0125

Email [email protected]

Greg Duff

Overview

Throughout Greg’s 30+ year career working in the hospitality industry, he has dedicated himself to helping clients solve the range of legal issues associated with operating a modern hospitality operation – from negotiating management and other operational agreements to advising on the myriad of issues associated with sales distribution and online travel.

Greg is Chair of the firm’s national Hospitality, Travel & Tourism practice, which is directed at the variety of matters faced by hospitality and travel industry members, including purchase and sales agreements, management agreements, sales and marketing, distribution, privacy and data security, procurement and technology.

His clients include owners, operators and franchisors of hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators and restaurants.

Greg has served as counsel to many of the hospitality industry’s local, state and national trade associations and trade groups, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP).

Prior to his career in private practice, Greg served in-house legal and business roles with the Westin Hotel Company/Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Homegrocer.com/Webvan Group and Columbia Hospitality.

Greg publishes the Online Travel Update, a weekly digest offering a global perspective of key trends and issues impacting the hospitality and online travel industries. His Online Travel Update posts appear on Foster Garvey’s Duff on Hospitality Law blog and are syndicated by JD Supra. Since 2019, Greg has been recognized among JD Supra’s Top Authors in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Subscribe to ensure you never miss an update.

Areas of Focus

Admissions

Washington, 1994
Oregon, 2012

Education

J.D., Seattle University School of Law (magna cum laude), 1994
- University of Puget Sound Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1993-1994
B.S., Pepperdine University (magna cum laude), 1991

Honors & Recognitions

Chambers USA (Nationwide) Leading Individual, Leisure & Hospitality, 2022-2023; 2017
FeedSpot, 10 Best Hotel Law Blogs and Websites
- Duff on Hospitality Law, 2025
JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, “Top Author”
- Artificial Intelligence, 2026
- Transportation, 2021-present
- Airlines/Aviation, 2019-2020
Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers, 2001-2002
Seattle Met magazine, “Top Lawyer”
The Best Lawyers in America^®, Leisure and Hospitality Law, 2024-present
Washington Super Lawyers List, 2005

Professional Activities

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Member
- Distribution Community of Interest Board
- General Counsels Committee
Foster Garvey, Firm Co-Chair, 2019-2020
Garvey Schubert Barer, Firm Chair, 2016-2019
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), Member
- Global AI Committee
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Member
- Global Distribution Advisory Board
Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), Board of Directors, 2026-present
Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA), Member
University of Washington School of Law, Hospitality Law, Part-time Lecturer
Washington Lodging Association (WLA), Member

Experience

Foster Garvey represented the sellers of Evolution Hospitality in its sale to Aimbridge Hospitality. Aimbridge is the nation’s second largest independent hotel investment and management firm. Foster Garvey advised the sellers in all aspects of the transaction, including structure, documentation, buyer due diligence (purchase price included an equity component in buyer), and broad seller due diligence.

Integrated celebrity signature restaurants and/or spas into existing hotel, resort and convention center facilities.

Prepared form global group sales and catering contracts and supporting materials.

Reviewed and negotiated franchise agreements with national franchisors Hilton, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Carlson, Choice, Jimmy John’s, Black Bear Diner and Quiznos.

Reviewed and negotiated global distribution, meta-search, daily deal/private sale and on-line marketing agreements with Expedia, Priceline, Booking.com, Orbitz, Agoda, Ctrip, Alpharooms, Destinations of the World, Hotelied, Google, TripAdvisor, Kayak, Roomkey, American Express, Gullivers Travel Associates, Travelclick, Gilt/Jetsetter, Rue La La and Travelzoo.

Reviewed and negotiated global vendor agreements for the purchase and/or licensing of a variety of goods and services, including in-room entertainment (PPV, FTG); property-management systems (PMS), point of sale (POS), and central reservation systems (CRS); merchant card and payment processing; application development and hosting; and telecommunications (data and voice).

Reviewed and negotiated management contracts for full service, select service, limited service and extended-stay hotels, condominium hotels, resorts, conference centers, timeshare resort homeowners’ association, golf courses and restaurants in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Colorado, Montana, Hawaii, New York, Louisiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio and Texas.

News & Insights

All Blog Posts All News All Events All Legal Alerts All Publications

Blog Posts

A Defining Start to 2026 for Online Travel: China Probes Trip.com, Airbnb Expands Its Hotel Ambitions and Google Unveils Its Agentic Booking Protocol

01.18.26

This week’s Online Travel Update: Amazon’s Prime Day travel offerings, Kayak’s new business booking features, and a record fine for Booking.com.

07.22.24

This Week in Online Travel: Appeals in Las Vegas Price-Fixing Case, Booking.com’s STR Push, and Hilton Expands into RV Bookings

06.12.24

Online Travel Update: Google’s Cookie Policy Update, Shifts in Sustainable Travel Interest, and the Reality of Online Group Bookings

04.30.24

Travel Innovations and Challenges: DOT’s Loyalty Program Hearing, Sustainability Efforts by Google & Expedia, and Hotel Direct Booking Updates

04.22.24

Online Travel Update: Trip.com Soars with Strong Q4 and Yearly Results, Booking Holdings Releases Earnings and Legal Updates

02.26.24

Online Travel Update: TripAdvisor’s Potential Sale Dominates Headlines as Expedia’s CEO Departure Announcement Still Reverberates

02.20.24

Online Travel Update: EU’s Proposed Changes to Traveler Rights, Massachusetts Joins States Looking to Ban Junk Fees and a Crescendo in the Clash Between Ryanair and OTAs

12.05.23

Online Travel Update: More Booking.com Customers Cite Fraudulent Emails and Hubli Launches API Offering Real-Time Meeting and Event Inventory

11.29.23

Analyzing Divergent Views on the Booking-eTraveli Merger and Developments in Corporate Travel Platforms – Online Travel Update

09.19.23

Online Travel Update: Expedia’s New Partnerships, AH&LA’s Support for Resort Fee Legislation, and Strong Q2 Results for Industry Giants

08.08.23

Online Travel Update: Sabre Records Win in Showdown Between Major CRS Platforms and Expedia Conducts Layoffs Across Multiple Departments

07.24.23

Online Travel Update: Expedia Terminates Hopper, TUI Unveils Package Offerings, Priceline Partners with Amazon for Prime Day, and Finnair Concedes to OTA Discounts

07.17.23

Online Travel Update: Expedia Group launches One Key, Booking.com potentially impacted by EU “Gatekeeper” Designation

07.11.23

Online Travel Update: Legal Developments in the U.S. and EU, Growing Concerns with Generative AI, Chargeback Challenges, and EU Commission’s Designation of Booking.com Under DSA

07.03.23

Online Travel Update: A Growing Influence of Fintech Products and Their Suppliers

06.20.23

Online Travel Update: Online Travel Giants $3.5 Billion Marketing Blitz, Priceline Embraces AI, Capital One Expands, and Expedia’s AI Advantage Wanes

06.12.23

Online Travel Update: Unveiling the AI Era in Travel – Priceline’s Future, Expedia Calls Out Agoda, Hotel Distribution Trends, and Resort Fee Controversies

06.05.23

Online Travel Update: Assessing Instant Booking Apps for Event Management, Fintech Promises, and Texas Resort Fees Settlements

05.22.23

Online Travel Update: CWT teams with Booking.com for Business, Uber takes flight bookings to the UK, and Expedia unveils new B2B initiatives

05.15.23

Online Travel Update: Ryanair fights back against scraping of fares while Booking.com’s purchase of ETraveli is under review again, Hopper’s fee practices questioned, and Expedia launches a bookable video platform

04.24.23

Online Travel Update: OTAs Regain Majority Share, Hoteliers Need to Act Like Retailers, and TripAdvisor’s Transparency Report

04.17.23

Online Travel Update: Expedia Integrates ChatGPT, EU Commission’s 2022 Policy Initiatives, Lufthansa’s Cloopio, and Kayak’s Change in Direction

04.10.23

Online Travel Update: Competition Among Banks’ Travel Platforms Intensifies, and Southwest Launches New Corporate Booking Portal

08.26.22

Online Travel Update: Summer Vacation Edition

08.19.22

Online Travel Update: Uber Travel Launches in the UK; Expedia Reports Record Q2 Revenue and Profit; and Booking Posts Strong Numbers

08.12.22

Online Travel Update: Tripscout Introduces Instagram Hotel Bookings, and Hopper Brings Flexible Payment Options to Short-Term Rentals

06.10.22

Online Travel Update: Musafir Partners with Mastercard to Launch Innovative Payment Options, and Wyndham Announces New Trip Planning Tool

06.03.22

Online Travel Update: Jury Finds Out That Sabre Did Not Unreasonably Restrain Trade and That U.S. Air Was Entitled to Only $1.00 in Damages, and Marriott Launches Marriott Media Network

05.27.22

Online Travel Update: Kakao Expands Ride-Hailing Offerings; Agoda Offers New Payment Alternative; Airbnb Enables New Split Stay Functionality

05.20.22

Online Travel Update: Online Booking Platforms Expedia Group and Booking Holdings Release Q1 Earnings Report; and Groups Are Latest Target for Alternative Accommodations

05.13.22

Online Travel Update: FlightHub Insists It Is Trustworthy; US Airways Claims Losses of Nearly $300 Million in Case Against Sabre; and AirAsia Continues Quest for Super App Status

05.06.22

Online Travel Update: Trivago Is Fined for Misleading Room Rates; Travel Influencers Are Under a Legal Microscope; and the U.K. Announces New Rules on Fake Reviews

04.29.22

Online Travel Update: Technology Powers Loyalty Program Growth, and Group Travel Continues Its Move Online

04.22.22

Online Travel Update: Groups360 Raises an Additional $50 Million; Uber Continues Push to Super App Status; and Google’s Rob Torres Returns to Expedia

04.15.22

Online Travel Update: Booking.com Adds Loyalty Program Benefits; Yelp Makes News on Two Fronts; and Major OTAs Spend More Billions on Marketing

04.08.22

Online Travel Update: Hopper Is the Fastest Growing Travel App in 2021; Sustainability in Travel Takes Another Step Forward; and Canada Jetlines Chooses Fareportal

04.01.22

Online Travel Update: Kayak Grows Development Team, and Fareportal’s Use of “Dark Patterns” Results in $2.6 Million Payment

03.25.22

Online Travel Update: OYO and Hopper Plan to Incorporate Games into Their Booking Platforms, and Hotelbeds Gets Creative in the Face of Competition

03.18.22

Online Travel Update: Effects of Recent Egencia Acquisition Start to Unfold at Amex GBT; Uber Seeks Super App Status; and Expedia Group Now a Preferred Redistributor for IHG

03.11.22

Online Travel Update: Google Shutters “Book on Google” feature; Booking Holdings’ Earnings Release Reveals Insight on Profit Margins Strategy; and Amadeus Brushes Off Concerns About Airlines’ Direct Connectivity Push

03.04.22

Online Travel Update: HotelPlanner Cancels Planned Merger; Booking.com Outsources Customer Service; Supply Remains a Challenge for Airbnb

02.25.22

Online Travel Update: The Travel Industry’s Push on Climate Gains Traction; Online Platforms Continue to Diversify; and Expedia Releases Fourth Quarter Earnings Report

02.18.22

Online Travel Update: Kayak and Cruise Critic Partner on Cruises; Hopper Reaches $5 Billion Valuation; Travel Management Companies Are in Transition

02.11.22

Online Travel Update: Copolo seeks to capitalize on travelers’ growing environmental concerns; Hopper diversifies through “homes”; Airbnb gains traction in traditional hotel room distribution

02.04.22

Online Travel Update: Travelport continues improvements to Travelport Plus and Hawaiian Airlines elects a different distribution strategy

01.28.22

Online Travel Update: Expedia predicts better travel days ahead; Southwest embraces Kayak’s business platform; Oyo released the Top 10 most downloaded travel apps in 2021

01.21.22

Online Travel Update: 2021 Year in Review

01.07.22

Online Travel Update: Google may pose a bigger threat to OTAs than ever

12.30.21

Online Travel Update: Trip.com grows European market share with superior technology; Sabre adds travel management company veteran

12.23.21

Online Travel Update: Agoda debuts additional new offerings; Booking.com reins in suppliers’ promotions; Amex GBT continues its transformation

12.17.21

Online Travel Update: Life House raises an additional $60 million; another business corporate platform quietly emerges; American Airlines offers GDS Alternative

12.10.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia Partner Solutions offers carbon neutral hotel stays; traditional offline travel management companies offer new technologies; Amazon ads target travel companies

11.24.21

Online Travel Update: Booking Holdings to acquire Getaroom; Amadeus announces value-based agreement with Delta Airlines; the end of travel advisors may be near

11.19.21

Online Travel Update: Amazon expands India travel offerings; Sabre loses Expedia’s North America business; flights drive most of Booking Holdings’ quarterly success

11.12.21

Online Travel Update: South Korean regulators re-examine OTA practices; cruise bookings move online; Fairfly plans to offer hotel solution

11.05.21

Online Travel Update: Marriott’s antitrust case goes to trial and Trip.com facilitates COVID testing online

10.29.21

Online Travel Update: Hopper continues its meteoric rise; Accor moves group bookings online; Capital One grows its travel portfolio

10.22.21

Online Travel Update: Marriott and Rakuten announce partnership; Sonder continues to expand distribution network; Expedia combines loyalty programs

10.15.21

Online Travel Update: Airbnb takes steps to accommodate hotel listings; Hopper is ranked the most downloaded travel app in the first half of 2021

10.08.21

Online Travel Update: Tripadvisor Plus program forced to make significant changes; travel industry veterans launch Spotnana; Hopper CEO plans to creates travel superapp for the West

10.01.21

Online Travel Update: MCR Hotels trial runs attribute pricing; Travel Funders Network offers revenue guarantee; and Hopper raises another $175 million

09.27.21

Online Travel Update: Travelport and Amazon Web Services announce travel startup accelerator; recent studies reveal Generation Z’s online travel preferences

09.10.21

Online Travel Update: Russian authorities impose antitrust penalty on Booking.com and individual branded properties decided to join Tripadvisor’s subscription service

09.03.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia Group and Booking Holdings’ Q2 earnings releases witness slight recovery in bookings

08.13.21

Online Travel Update: Trivago and Kayak take different approaches to address metasearches; Fareport Holdings drops antitrust suit against JetBlue; Sonder prepares for expected rebound in corporate travel

08.06.21

Online Travel Update: Tripadvisor Plus announces initial hotel partners for its subscription service, and Booking Holdings reveals more details around their planned fintech business

07.26.21

Online Travel Update: Vrbo gets creative when facing vacation rentals shortages; Booking.com creates fintech business to enhance payment platform; tensions rise between Southwest Airlines and flight discounter Skiplagged

07.09.21

Online Travel Update: Spanish hotels made claims against Booking.com over its pricing practices; recently passed house bill may impact Google’s travel products; and Google delays rollout of its controversial third-party cookies

07.02.21

Online Travel Update: Hopper introduces price freeze for hotels; Expedia aims to be one-stop shop cruise agency; Tripadvisor launches Tripadvisor Plus; a federal appeals court overturns 1-800 contacts decision

06.23.21

Online Travel Update: Booking Holdings announces that it will repay pandemic aid after criticism of bonuses; Trip.com unexpectedly sells shares in Tripadvisor; the travel industry tests the waters of a buy-now-pay-later model

06.11.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia continues to overhaul their leadership; Sabre partners with ByHours to distribute hourly room rentals; Google Travel includes vacation rentals alongside traditional lodging accommodations in search results

06.04.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia Chairman anticipates the bounceback of leisure and business travel; Nevada court rules litigation against online travel agencies can continue; Booking.com loses court battle in Germany

05.28.21

Online Travel Update: Booking Holdings, Expedia Group and Tripadvisor report rising travel demand and discuss core strategies to capture travel rebound in first quarter’s earnings releases

05.14.21

Online Travel Update: Ryanair launches initiatives to protect customers from unauthorized online travel agents; short-term rental owners seek to attract direct bookings; Sonder doubles its valuation in under two years

05.07.21

Online Travel Update: The New York Times predicts strong return of travel agents; experience staying at KAYAK Miami Beach hotel revealed; Expedia settles false advertising class action

04.23.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia joins other platforms in offering COVID-19 advisory; online distributors pursue public offerings; Booking.com fined over recent data breach reporting

04.19.21

Online Travel Update: Short-term rentals hosts become hot commodities; AirAsia continues its effort to diversify online offerings; Expedia launches AI-enabled virtual travel agents

04.12.21

Online Travel Update: JetBlue seeks to diversify its online offerings; Hopper announces latest $170 million funding round; next-gen middleware companies may change hotel room distribution forever

04.02.21

Online Travel Update: Tripadvisor Plus continues to grab attention; distributors’ “narrow parity” compromise in South Korea; Trip.com deepens partnership with Shangri-La; Fareportal is asked to substantiate antitrust claims

03.26.21

Online Travel Update: Google once again embraces organic search and eliminates hotel listing fees; Kayak plans to open hotel in Miami Beach; Certares is on the road to become travel powerhouse

03.19.21

Online Travel Update: Virtual experiences may remain relevant over the long haul; hospitality industry plans for post-pandemic group travel; Google aims to eliminate third-party cookies

03.12.21

Online Travel Update: Booking Holdings releases fourth quarter and 2020 financial results, plus a few takeaways; and Expedia and other newcomers eye wholesale distribution opportunities

03.05.21

Online Travel Update: Skift pays tribute to Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson; Kayak says meta search is still influential; Tripadvisor updates their subscription model

02.25.21

Online Travel Update: Trivago reports a challenging 2020, but expects a positive 2021; Expedia reports disappointing year-end results; ‘Clear’ emerges as new digital health passport leader; unpaid refunds threaten Lastminute.com

02.19.21

Online Travel Update: Booking.com announces new cancellation and deposit policies; Expedia offers discount rates to all of its travel agency partners; Agoda launches new booking tool; Amazon drops virtual experiences prices

02.12.21

Online Travel Update: Tripadvisor introduces virtual voice tours for Amazon Alexa; Airbnb Experiences continues to face challenges; TripActions succeeds with fresh approach to travel management

02.05.21

Online Travel Update: Expedia dominates early 2021 television advertising; powerhouse technology and health care companies join forces to create vaccination passport; Apple moves forward with controversial privacy requirements

01.29.21

Online Travel Update: Tripadvisor launches beta application to help travelers avoid crowds at public places; Southwest pursues claims against unauthorized OTA; Chinese OTAs actively pursue traditional hotel investments

01.22.21

Online Travel Update: Trump Administration bans Alipay; JetBlue withholds flight information from Fareportal; outdoor booking startup Hipcamp connects landowners with campers

01.15.21

Online Travel Update: 2020 Year in Review

01.08.21

Online Travel Update: Agoda adds installment payments, and Expedia scales back its non-core businesses while its competitors press forward

12.31.20

Online Travel Update: VResorts launches first virtual reality booking platform; Lufthansa and Sabre settle differences; EU releases anticipated online regulations

12.24.20

Online Travel Update: Airbnb’s blockbuster IPO arrives with $100 billion valuation; Expedia dismisses launch of Google’s Travel Insights; RVs gain popularity as new mode of accommodation and travel

12.18.20

Online Travel Update: Accor and Marriott’s interest in short-term rental interest grows; new tax claims filed against OTAs in Nevada, EU regulations postponed again

12.11.20

Online Travel Update: Increased importance of contactless engagements may fuel growth of a startup, Volara, in 2021, and IATA announces COVID-19 Travel Pass

12.03.20

Online Travel Update: Kyte is featured in PhocusWire’s Hot Travel Startups for 2021; Booking Holdings discusses pressures predicament of the hotel industry; Airbnb’s IPO upholds its status as a global distribution powerhouse

11.24.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: JetBlue announces plans to distribute short-term rentals; Beachy, one of PhocusWire’s Hot Travel Startups for 2021; Fintech may be the key to online travel recovery

11.20.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Tripadvisor explores consumer subscription program; Airbnb faces potential class action over refund and cancellation policies; leading OTAs issue third-quarter earnings releases

11.13.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Tensions between Google and Booking.com become public; Google confirms recent Expedia research points to increased OTA reliance

11.05.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com adds direct flight search for U.S. travelers and anticipates what’s next for future of travel; the online travel industry reacts to the Department of Justice’s antitrust claims against Google

10.30.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Travelers seek increased transparency and Booking.com abandons BookingSuite effort

10.23.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Hotel partnerships with co-working companies continue to rise; Google plans to phase out third-party cookies from Chrome; Expedia and Agoda claim COVID-19 has killed the ‘sacred cow’ of rate parity

10.16.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: OTA Insight introduces Rate Parity Distribution certification program; Amazon introduces virtual experiences; Booking.com pursues domestic development opportunities

10.12.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com remains bullish on long-term prospects of short-term rentals and introduces longer-stay rates; CitizenM introduces corporate traveler subscription program

10.02.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Marriott’s transition to Expedia Partner Solutions and recent successes with short-term rental program; MakeMyTrip’s expansion into United Arab Emirates

09.24.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Air France-KLM and Delta take vastly different approaches to airline distribution; false advertising claims against Expedia is ready for trial

09.18.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Apple’s updated privacy practices may create headaches for marketers

09.10.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Online travel suppliers come and go on Google’s short-term rental platform; Google launches contactless guest system for travelers; EU regulators once again take different approaches to rate parity

09.03.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Google continues to unveil new travel products despite pandemic; Choice Hotels enters into a strategic agreement with Hotelbeds

08.27.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Parity commitments extended by Expedia and Booking.com; Google adds pandemic details to travel search

08.21.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking Holdings and TripAdvisor dominate headlines with second-quarter earnings releases, reflecting historical impact of COVID-19 with some signs of improvement

08.12.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia’s recent second-quarter earnings release reflects current travel industry misery; Expedia’s failure to provide refunds allegedly violates Washington state’s Consumer Protection Act

08.10.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Family travel club launched in the midst of pandemic; Booking.com introduces new incentive program for travelers; narrow parity commitments proposed in South Korea

07.30.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Tripadvisor unloads eight of its media companies; Expedia finalizes union negotiations; Airbnb captures headlines with bookings hitting pre-pandemic levels for first time

07.22.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia’s Vrbo sees significant growth in bookings; Expedia expands cryptocurrency payment options; Singapore Airlines adds global distribution system surcharge

07.16.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Radisson partners with Hotelbeds; Expedia offers more details on its partner recovery program

07.09.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia consolidates its HomeAway and VRBO brands; Sonder raises $170 million in funding; TripAdvisor adds COVID-19-response filters and tests out new travel advisor referral service Reco

07.01.20

Seattle Hotel Worker Notices Must Be Posted Wednesday, July 1

06.30.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: EDreams adds hotels to its subscription services; metasearch grows in importance; Japanese hoteliers once again raise concern about OTAs’ rate practices

06.25.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Despegar moves forward with Best Day acquisition; Roomkey suspends operations; Booking.com transitions its tours and experiences business to TUI Group’s Musement

06.18.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: The debate on Booking.com and Expedia’s dominance in the marketplace; Silver Lake invests $108 million in Vacasa; industry experts question Expedia’s Partner Recovery Program

06.08.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Trip.com’s first-quarter earnings release garners mixed reviews; Expedia Group pledges $275 million to the travel industry’s COVID-19 recovery efforts; Hotelbeds to add health and safety filter

06.01.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia’s first-quarter earnings release captivates main headlines; two major airlines with contrasting approaches to distribution; Facebook and Instagram give business profiles new retail storefronts

05.26.20

City of Seattle Releases Rules for Hotel Employee Protections

05.21.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: InterContinental Hotels Group opens its first flagship store on Ctrip’s platform; France plans to create an online booking engine; Hong Kong regulators accept parity-clause commitments from major OTAs

05.18.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Trivago and Airbnb announce austerity measures; Despegar reconsiders acquisition of travel agency Best Day; vacation rental platforms face scrutiny by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority

05.11.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia abandons rate parity in Australia; Sabre and Farelogix terminate merger agreement; European travel associations urge legislators for use of vouchers over refunds due to liquidity crisis

05.04.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia announces management changes and new financing; Booking.com announces austerity measures; Booking.com and South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission’s agreement over the use of rate parity provisions

04.28.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia agrees to remove narrow parity rate provisions; Accor and Bureau Veritas launch safety protocol label in Europe; recovery of traditional lodging vs. short-term rentals post-COVID crisis

04.23.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: UK’s Competition and Markets Authority considers unilateral COVID-19 cancellation policy changes; Genting announces new health and safety protocols; Airbnb bans short-term rentals in United Kingdom

04.18.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Trip.com’s CEO discusses COVID-19 & the China travel market; some U.S. hotels transform vacant hotel rooms into personal workspaces; major OTAs reach tentative resolution to HK investigation

04.10.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: IATA criticized by travel agencies for its airline refund procedures; Chinese online travel platforms ramp up post-COVID-19 efforts; major distributors roll out traveler-friendly cancellation programs

04.03.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Short-term rental platform cancellation policies scrutinized; Trip.com projects decreases in Q1 revenue; Indian OTAs struggle with traveler cancellations

03.27.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: TripAdvisor to abandon its vacation rental business; large OTAs withdraw their full-year earnings forecast for 2020

03.23.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Marketing investments by OTAs increase again; short-term rentals platforms’ landmark data-sharing agreement with the EU; Trump Administration orders Shiji to unwind its acquisition of hotel tech firm

03.13.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking Holdings aims to cut costs; Travelport’s new CEO initiates tech overhaul; smaller tour operators and hotels acquire new tools to drive direct bookings

03.06.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Google’s popular vertical search features; third-party distribution sites dominate keyword purchases; AHLA selects Matt Carrier as Vice President of Innovation Policy and Research

02.28.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Google adds travel rivals’ direct links within search results due to mounting pressure from the EU; Expedia Chairman Barry Diller hints at layoffs

02.21.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: European Commission finalizes its multi-year pricing probe into Meliá Hotels and tour operators; TripAdvisor asserts price control measures with its Experiences partners

02.18.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: The Impact of EU online sales rules on the lodging industry; OTAs under Korea Fair Trade Commission scrutiny; airline technology under the microscope as Sabre antitrust trial begins

02.10.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia Group’s Trivago guilty of misleading consumers; speculation about Expedia’s next steps; China adopts hotel online service standards

01.31.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Blackrock leads funding round for guest acquisition platform SiteMinder; CheapAir transforms into a new ‘boutique’ OTA; Hipmunk seeks to resurrect itself from its M&A ashes

01.24.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Russian investigators look into Booking.com’s practices; Google debuts several new user enhancements for travelers; tour injury lawsuit tests TripAdvisor’s experiences business

01.17.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: 2019 Year in Review

01.06.20

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com agrees to EU demands to change travel offers, also signs deal with Google Nest; Expedia’s chairman speaks on company’s future during ‘fireside chat’; CCPA takes effect January 1, 2020

12.30.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: South Korean competition authority’s antitrust enforcement action against major OTAs; U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority reinforces focus on consumer practices of intermediary platforms

12.20.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sudden resignations of Expedia Group CEO & CFO; Kayak’s metasearch business model evolves with launch of Kayak Premium; Amazon slowly expands its travel products on its Indian travel platform

12.13.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Airbnb introduces new ‘Cooking’ Category on Airbnb Experiences; Pegasus partners with Alibaba-backed Shiji Group to grow its Asia-Pacific market presence

12.06.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Travel booking startup turning traditional group booking upside down; Hoxton hotel chain introduces flexible direct hotel bookings; Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program goes mainstream

11.27.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Vrbo repositions itself as a family travel site; Expedia implements resort fee plan

11.22.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: German and French antitrust authorities examine effects of pricing algorithms on competition; TripAdvisor announces joint venture; Alibaba and Accor collaborate to attract Chinese travelers

11.18.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Indian online travel agent being investigated for potential consumer abuses; Kayak launches business platform; Trip.com’s growing global aspirations

11.11.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Japanese distributor Rakuten eliminates all parity requirements; analyst questions Booking Holdings’ financial prospects; Booking.com introduces quality rating system for short-term rentals

11.01.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com launches standalone flight offerings to travelers across Europe; China proposes controversial regulations for travel platforms

10.24.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Simpleview develops destination-focused application for Amazon Alexa and Google Home; Sonder seeks to shake up traditional hoteliers; vacation rentals gain prominence on Google Search

10.18.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Travel industry pricing practices garner Singapore regulator attention; Japanese distributor abandons parity provisions; Congresswoman questions recently proposed resort fee legislation

10.14.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Proposed legislation targets resort fees; Booking.com as the latest target of consumer watchdog

10.04.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: The UK Competition and Markets Authority declares victory; Sabre pronounces that the DOJ case is “riddled with errors”; Ctrip to become Trip.com Group; another undisclosed fees case proceeds

09.20.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: TripAdvisor continues to defend claims of fake reviews; Booking.com and others create travel sustainability pact; Vacasa strikes direct connect deal with Google

09.13.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Ettsa demands tighter EU standards on hotel booking rules; scalability is key for new distribution capability standards; travel websites push back on the hotly contested hidden resort fees

09.06.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sabre/FareLogix saga continues to unfold; Groups360 receives a significant investment

08.30.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sabre likely to face anti-trust challenge; Google now offers vacation rentals; Priceline and WeConvene announce investor event collaboration

08.23.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sabre vows to fight EU allegations; Agoda unveils its ‘Mix and Save’ feature; Vacasa acquires remaining Wyndham vacation rentals

08.09.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com relaxes keyword restrictions on its trademarks; insurer partners with Roomer Travel to insure against losses and spur growth

08.07.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: The hotel resort fee saga targeting Marriott continues; non-cancelable rates at the heart of pending Booking.com appeal; TripAdvisor fined over potentially fake reviews

07.26.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: The rising importance of metasearch; hotel resort fees still making headlines; hoteliers and short-term rental hosts’ challenges with Agoda

07.19.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Accor and Air France-KLM announce unique loyalty partnership; Booking.com delays plans to charge commissions on resort fees and other service charges

07.15.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Indian and South Korean regulators examine practices of online platforms; Sabre launches content services for lodging; Expedia holds off on charging commissions on resort fees for now

07.03.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Hopper focuses on hotel bookings; Amazon’s re-entry into travel; Facebook cryptocurrency a possible travel payment solution

06.28.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Nustay seeks EU regulatory review; planned EU review of existing anti-trust rules to include common OTA issues; Airbnb expands activity offerings

06.24.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Dutch authorities scrutinize keyword restrictions; TripAdvisor takes further precautionary steps to ensure guests’ safety; Expedia considers following Booking.com’s move on commissions

06.14.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Airbnb begins integration of traditional lodging products; Dutch authority suggests greater transparency is needed for certain gateway platforms; Booking.com’s PR agency working overtime

06.05.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com amends its commission policies; Ctrip continues its incredible growth

05.31.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: State attorneys general explore alleged anti-trust violations; Amazon has entered the online travel industry; TripAdvisor formally adds safety features

05.24.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com’s victory over contract terms with hotels in Swedish court appeal; Expedia under investigation by Utah over hotel collusion claims; misleading online ads scrutinized by Dutch authority

05.17.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: EU antitrust’s probe into airline ticketing technology companies; Marriott expands its home-sharing business; Expedia CEO discusses implications of potential fallout with United Airlines

05.13.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Japanese regulators’ recent investigation into rate parity; Google Maps’ hotel search functionality improves; spike in hotels’ cancellations rates impacted by OTAs’ generous cancellation policies

05.03.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sabre’s previously announced acquisition runs into regulatory trouble; enforceability of Booking.com’s venue clause to be reviewed by EU’s highest court; EU’s platform-to-business rules to take effect

04.26.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Traveloka challenges OTA acronym; Japanese anti-trust agents raid offices of Expedia and Booking.com

04.19.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia unable to stop withholding of critical airline data; Accor partners with Middle Eastern distributor

04.12.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Online travel agencies drawn into Indonesian antitrust probe; Australia: Expedia takes first step to end rate parity clauses; is co-working more than a gimmick?

04.04.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Conspiracy theorists live another day; major distributors’ annual advertising spend sets another record

03.29.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: U.S. Circuit Court deals a blow to short-term platforms; Google continues steady evolution; a few words about Airbnb/HotelTonight Acquisition

03.22.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: BookingSuite pivots; TripAdvisor expands sponsored placements; rate detection services benefiting from wholesaler abuses

03.15.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Sales principles introduced for online booking sites in the U.K.; AirAsia.com the next large online travel agent?

03.08.19

Puget Sound’s Increase in Development, Investment & Supply Panel Discussions at Bisnow’s 2019 Pacific Northwest Hotel Summit

03.06.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Online platforms lack price transparency; United continues preparation for Expedia wind down; Ctrip seeks to diversity hotel offerings

03.01.19

Industry Challenges Panel at the 2019 HEDNA Global Distribution Conference

02.26.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Hilton’s direct booking efforts enjoy success; Belgium’s investigations into travel agency practices hit procedural snag; Shiji in the news again

02.21.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Expedia gets tough with United amidst ticket-distribution costs battle; Trivago’s recent changes may anger advertisers; U.K. investigation forces changes at Expedia & Booking.com

02.15.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Danish competition authorities weigh in on OTAs; the politics of distribution; Triptease expands its offerings

02.08.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Lufthansa partners with AI-powered predictive platform; Priceline corners military market; Airbnb seeks to expand its corporate business

02.01.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Air carriers accused of abusing dominant position in online travel; cruise industry & traditional offline distribution channels; Ryanair’s attempt to become the “Amazon of Travel” struggles

01.25.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: New platforms brought to regulators’ attention; Google Assistant Interpreter Mode gets a test drive; Expedia’s Ad-On Advantage lives another day

01.18.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Mistakenly discounted rates a regular occurrence; Report discloses rampant disclosure of personal information by travel apps

01.11.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Priceline is back full steam despite change in name and business model; Resellers running amok with hotel rates

01.04.19

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Booking.com weighs in on the need for further EU regulation; Seattle law firm pursues Expedia again

12.28.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Global distribution systems noted by appeals court as being ‘rather backwards’; German competition authorities raise concerns similar to Australian regulators

12.21.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: French authorities to examine travel platforms’ pricing practices; tour operators’ cooperation may result in lower fines; Trivago under Australian anti-trust scrutiny for misleading advertising

12.14.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Global distribution systems become latest EU target; Booking.com & Agoda under Korean anti-competitive scrutiny; Ctrip joins Tencent in an IPO

12.07.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Lola finds a home?; Orbitz expands its loyalty program benefits; Sabre acquires Farelogix

11.21.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Regulation of large online platforms is coming to Japan; And you thought net rates were dead; Choice Hotels’ inventory available on Google’s Book

11.15.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update: Effects of Google’s trademark and keyword practices changes; Japanese regulators conclude Airbnb investigation; Will Google become a fully-operational OTA in the future?

11.09.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Pennsylvania closes tax loophole; voice not only for front of house applications; Expedia Group takes steps to expand short-term rental offerings

11.02.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Online travel agency startup Kiwi taking on industry giants; Ctrip ventures into hotel management business; Shiji is another name you should know

10.26.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Expedia expands its voice-activation résumé; UK’s Competition and Markets Authority issues study on the use of pricing algorithms; Domio seeks to become the “Airbnb” of group travel

10.19.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Hopper is poised for growth; Vacasa is Oasis’ latest suitor; American Airlines’ direct connection efforts provide valuable lessons for hotel industry

10.12.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – China prepares unprecedented online tourism regulation; Hilton reinforces direct booking messaging with Anna Kendrick campaign; Another platform featuring short-term rentals

10.05.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Agoda Homes seeks to gain ground; Direct booking is best according to Australian regulators; TripAdvisor abandons its roots

09.28.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Unprecedented penalty for author of fake hotel reviews; Short-term rentals become increasingly available to corporate travelers; Hotelbeds begins inevitable brand consolidation

09.21.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Job postings hint at TripAdvisor’s growing interest in travel packages; Orbitz held to be a taxable room broker

09.13.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Distribution 101: Merchant model vs. agency model; Big five dominate Chinese online hotel market; Rate parity isn’t what it used to be

09.07.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Recent important OTA developments largely ignored; Sabre continues portfolio diversification as short-term rentals become even more mainstream; Expedia quietly expands its Asian influence

08.31.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Seattle home to yet another travel industry startup; Chase strikes OTA travel partnership

08.24.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Travel agency hit with TCPA class action; Expedia ups its game by adding more house listings; Amazon a threat to online travel agencies, not hotels

08.17.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Industry stakeholders in Australia embrace new distribution model; Hyatt’s new loyalty alliance; HotelTonight gamifies travel booking

08.10.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Sweden challenges “narrow” parity; Direct bookings remain stagnant; Short-term rentals boost Expedia’s latest earnings

08.03.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – ETTSA challenges European Commission’s failure to act; the European Union issues formal warning to Airbnb

07.27.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Booking.com goes back to basics; Booking Holdings expands metasearch platform

07.20.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Good news for disabled travelers and the hoteliers that serve them; Booking.com limiting non-core services; Airbnb and Booking.com, the distinctions become harder to draw

07.13.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – CMA initiates enforcement action against booking sites; Hoteliers seek dismissal of anti-trust suit; Consolidation of Indian and Middle Eastern booking sites

07.06.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Alexa’s move into hospitality becomes official with Amazon launching an Alexa system for hotels; Blockchain gaining momentum with large industry players seeking to implement this technology

06.29.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Skift reports key takeaways from inaugural tech. forum; Expedia plans five-fold increase in activities bookings; Gillian Tans joins Ctrip’s board

06.22.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Final review of antitrust allegations against hoteliers; Guest ownership as spoils of today’s digital war; Homeaway adds traditional hotel inventory; Chatbots become more mainstream

06.15.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Reservation re-sales in the news again; Google’s “Reserve” functionality gaining users; Renewed attempts to legislate booking disclosure requirements

06.07.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Gripes with restrictions on using trademarks as keyword search terms; Airlines’ introduction of metasearch-like price comparison tools; Traveliko’s subscription model for hotels; Hyatt’s global reach

06.01.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Consumer benefits of keyword restrictions; Trivago’s reliance on short-term rentals; Growing concerns regarding Expedia’s dead end listing practices

05.25.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Vertical vs. horizontal restraints on trade; Despegar’s product diversification; TUI’s additional third-party tour operators; Dreamlines secures additional investment

05.18.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – $5.2 billion spent in fraudulent hotel bookings; the dark world of travel search engines, hotels & online agencies; loss of Travelport’s lucrative Flight Centre contract

05.11.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Keyword restrictions – Part II: 1-800 Contacts case; Trivago’s strikethrough pricing practices under scrutiny; Choice Hotels expands its short-term rental offerings; Ctrip’s ties with Accor

05.04.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Keyword restrictions: What exactly is the problem?; Tripadvisor acquires tours and activities technology platform; Booking Holdings acquires activities distribution startup

04.27.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Australian authorities confirm renewed interest in parity provisions; Singapore opens evaluation of OTAs; Expedia seeks to toss illegal scrapping suit

04.19.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Price-fixing fines imposed against FlightCentre; Red Lion’s unorthodox approach to loyalty; update on Microsoft’s voice-activated device, Cortana

04.13.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Brazilian antitrust authorities adopt narrow approach to rate parity; Group segment moves to online platforms; Priceline ends its bidding service for rental cars

04.06.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Australian Competition Authorities re-think “narrow” parity; Keyword prohibitions the subject of recent suit

03.30.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Ctrip’s earnings slip following regulatory intervention; Booking.com continues its evolution; Airbnb embraces its distribution channel aspirations

03.23.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Trivago’s strikethrough pricing practices subject to AU scrutiny; Denmark opens investigation into hotel booking market; Amazon and the travel industry; Costco’s thriving travel business

03.15.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – SwayPay seeks to simplify payment processing and Hotel Bonanza hits the 10,000 mark in hotel listings

03.09.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Airbnb continues its evolution into a traditional lodging company and/or distributor; Priceline Group, Inc. announces name change to Booking Holdings

03.02.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Wyndham Joins the Loyalty Discount Program Bandwagon; Expedia Adds Event Tickets to Offering; Expedia Cuts Jobs in the Northwest

02.23.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – German coalition’s plans for increased scrutiny of online platforms; Avvio introduces chatbot Dorothy; Airbnb’s partnership with SiteMinder

02.16.18

Oregon Sports Summit Hosted by Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission

02.13.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Google leverages travel data to predict airline delays; Google’s online travel efforts begin to pay dividends; Expedia or Priceline owned hotels may just be around the corner

02.09.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Airbnb announces first outside board member; California litigation against Airbnb not over yet; and Ctrip makes an appearance at World Economic Forum

02.02.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – California City Can Ban Short-Term Rentals; Airbnb Purges San Francisco Listings; Italian Regulators Penalize Online Travel Sites

01.26.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – China shuts down Marriott’s website & mobile app; Airbnb hits the jackpot in Las Vegas; Ctrip’s Gourmet List adds OpenTable listings

01.19.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Airbnb avoids liability for lease violations; Short-lived successes at Room Key; Hopper makes the leap into hotel bookings

01.12.18

OTA & Travel Distribution Update – Google linked to new allegations of collusive keyword practices; Argentina’s distribution powerhouse, Despegar; OTAs under scrutiny by Finnish authorities

01.05.18

Washington Lodging Forecast and More: Highlights from Washington Lodging Association’s 2011 Annual Conference October 2-4, 2011 – Tulalip Resort

10.14.11

Highlights from 2011 Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association Annual Conference September 25 -27, 2011

10.07.11

Highlights from 2011 ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum September 13, 2011

09.28.11

Fall Events: Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Annual Convention, Washington Lodging Association Annual Convention, ZZIF, Travel Distribution Summit and Others

08.26.11

57 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Two Portland Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’

08.17.23

Foster Garvey Receives Honors in 2023 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured

06.01.23

Greg Duff Awarded Top Honor at 2023 Readers Choice Awards

03.07.23

Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Leading Law Firms in 2022 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured

06.01.22

Larry Brant, Greg Duff and Josh Bloomgarden Named ‘Top Authors’ in 2022 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards

03.07.22

Greg Duff Discusses the State of Face-to-Face Meetings in Insurance & Financial Meetings Management

02.24.22

Foster Garvey Named ‘Top Firm’ in 2021 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards; Greg Duff, Larry Brant and Peter Evalds Selected as ‘Top Authors’

03.31.21

Greg Duff Shared Important Best Practices on Hotel Guest Communications in the COVID-19 World at the Virtual Hospitality Law Conference

10.09.20

Foster Garvey Recognized as ‘Top Firm’ in 2020 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards; Greg Duff and Larry Brant Named ‘Top Authors’

04.29.20

Greg Duff and Larry Brant Recognized for Thought Leadership Achievement; Named ‘Top Authors’ in 2019 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards

04.02.19

Stacy Marchesano and Greg Duff Moderated Two Panel Sessions at Bisnow Summit on How the Hot Seattle Tourism Market Is Impacting the Hotel Industry

02.25.19

“Legal Focus: Key Topics Shaping the Venue Industry Landscape,” International Association of Venue Managers Region 4 Conference

07.18.26

“Food Service Contracting 101,” Hospitality Lawyer’s Legal & Risk Challenges in Contract Food Service Management Virtual Seminar

12.08.21

“Contracts: Tales From the Trenches,” MPI Oregon Chapter November Education Program

11.02.21

“Avoiding Post-Pandemic Legal Landmines,” 2021 HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference

09.28.21

“The New Paradigm – Vaccines, Health Passports and other COVID-Related Operational and Contracting Challenges,” The CIO Summit

09.09.21

“Legal & Privacy,” Executive Vendor Summit by Hospitality Upgrade

06.10.21

“The Post Pandemic Legal Landscape,” HSMAI Industry Webinar

05.25.21

“Traveler Expectations for Post-Pandemic Travel,” Puget Sound Chapter Business Travel Association’s April General Meeting

04.21.21

“Vendors, Distributors and Celebrity Chefs 101,” Hospitality and Tourism Law Program at American University Washington College of Law

06.01.20

“Hospitality Employment Law Challenges: Returning Employees to the Workplace”

05.27.20

“Legal Headlines or Headwinds for Digital Marketers,” HSMAI Chief Digital Officer Executive Roundtable

01.23.20

“Managing Hospitality Contracts for Compliance,” Greater Puget Sound Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals’ November Meeting

11.19.19

“Distribution 201: An Update on the Changing Distribution World,” HLC Series 2.0 – Houston (The Hospitality Law Conference)

04.13.18

“Kitchen Confidential: Structuring the Celebrity Chef Relationship,” HLC Series 2.0 – Houston (The Hospitality Law Conference)

04.12.18

“HSMAI Lodging Chief Digital Officer Executive Roundtable,” The Hospital Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)

12.08.15

“Contracting in the 21st Century: The Rising Significance of Guest Information and Intellectual Property,” HFTP’s Annual Convention & Trade Show

10.18.12

“Whose Property Is It? Practical Guidance for Handling Third Parties’ Music, Images and Brands,” Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association

09.25.11

“Hospitality, Food and Travel Panel,” ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum

09.13.11

“Understanding and Negotiating Leisure Sales Agreements,” The 2011 Hospitality Law Conference

02.09.11

“Where Do We Go From Here? Event Contracting in the New Norm,” MPIWSC and PCMA Northwest 9th Annual Meetings Industry Summit

01.01.11

“Contracting 101 for People with Better Things to Do,” Greater Puget Sound Chapter of Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals

01.01.09

“Thriving in the Recession,” NEWH, Inc. Northwest, the Hospitality Industry Network

01.01.09

“Group Sales,” the Hyatt Team at the Grand Hyatt

01.01.09

“Contracts Revealed: Understanding Your Event Contract,” International Association of Conference Centers 28th Annual Conference

01.01.09

Congress Passes CARES Act: Stimulus Package Includes $349 Billion for SBA Guarantees of Forgivable Loans for Small and Medium Sized Businesses

03.27.20

Publications

Minimizing Hotel Liability in a COVID-19 World

01.01.21

The Potential New Normal for Restaurants

05.13.20

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Duff on Hospitality Law

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News & Insights

Hilton Bypasses the GDS with New Navan Connection

AI Visibility Emerges as Travel’s New Marketing Benchmark

Sweden Offers a Fresh Perspective on Keyword Disputes

New UK Requirements for Google Put AI Content Use in Focus

The State of Direct Booking

AI Takes Center Stage at Expedia Explore and Google I/O

Platform Players Stake Out New Ground in Online Travel Distribution

Major Earnings, Regulatory Pressure and a Surprise Acquisition Shape a Full Week in Online Travel

The End of Keywords? Travel Marketing Faces an AI Reset

Online Travel Faces the Next Phase of AI Commercialization

Gaps in Trust, Security and AI Visibility Define a Challenging Week in Online Travel

Subtle Shifts in Online Travel: Hopper Lands RBC, AI Hiring Reveals Priorities & Booking.com Changes Course in Chile

Amazon and OpenAI Push Ahead While Amadeus Scores a Court Win

The AI Divide: Google and OpenAI Bet on Different Futures

A Busy Week for Travel Tech: Google, Booking, Hilton and Hopper in Focus

Travel’s AI Momentum Continues With New Tools From Hilton, Marriott and Amex GBT

AI Commerce Hits a Reality Check as Regulators Circle the Travel Industry

The $20B Year for OTAs: Marketing at Scale in the Age of AI

Wyndham and IHG Join the AI Conversation While Booking Holds Its Ground

A Busy Week in Online Travel: Expedia Earnings, Hotelier AI Developments and Renewed Parity Concerns

A Week of Rising Pressure in Online Travel as Pricing Rules Advance and Platform Competition Evolves

Accor Makes Its Move in AI Travel With a New Booking Experience in ChatGPT

The Growing Role of AI Agents in Online Travel and ChatGPT’s Ad Plans

A Defining Start to 2026 for Online Travel: China Probes Trip.com, Airbnb Expands Its Hotel Ambitions and Google Unveils Its Agentic Booking Protocol

Online Travel Update: 2025 Year in Review

The Next Phase of Travel Distribution Rekindles Pricing and Parity Debates

AI Turns Up the Heat: OTAs Defend Their Turf as Big Tech Redraws the Map

Travel’s Next Competitive Fault Lines

The Unfinished Revolution: Why AI’s Promise for Travel Remains Mired in Power Struggles

When Travel Gets Personal: Digital IDs Lift Off and Airbnb Takes on Two Fronts

B2B and AI: The Twin Engines of Travel’s Future?

AI and the Travel Value Chain: Who Wins in the New Search Economy?

The Growing Influence of ChatGPT on Travel’s Future

Between the AI Waves: Online Travel Catches Its Breath

The Race to Reinvent Online Travel

Agentic AI or Amplified Influence: The New Battle for Guest Acquisition

This Week in Online Travel: Sabre Bets on AI, Social Media Drives Inspiration and Skift Questions Market Power

Travel’s Balance of Power

The Future of Online Travel in an AI-Driven World

The Economics of Distribution: AI’s Impact and Google’s New Limits

Algorithms, Alliances and the Art of Booking: This Week’s Travel Tech Shifts

This Week in Travel: Pricing Probes, Expedia’s Strong Quarter, Southwest’s Distribution Shift and New Loyalty Perks

Q2 Results, AI Strategy and New Legal Trouble Keep Spotlight on Booking Holdings

Slower Summer Week, Big Travel Tech Moves: OpenAI’s Booking Agent and DirectBooker’s AI Play

Google’s DMA Tightrope: Navigating Search Result Battles Between Intermediaries and Direct Sellers in Online Travel

EU Legal Pressures Mount: Developments in Booking.com Class Action & Uncertainty Around DMA

Booking.com’s Ongoing Legal Battles, Alibaba’s Travel Restructuring & the Rise of AI in Hotel Visibility

Google Hotels Faces New Challenges as Competitors Gain Ground

Trouble at the Top: DMA, Booking.com and the Cost of Platform Power

AI at the Crossroads, Booking.com in the Crosshairs: This Week’s Travel Industry Headlines

Class Actions, Competition Scrutiny and Lloyds’ Travel Play: A Full Plate for Online Travel

Rewriting the Travel Rulebook: AI, Accor and a Swiss Surprise

The Canadian Competition Bureau Is Targeting “Drip Pricing” and Other Deceptive Marketing Practices by Hotels

This Week in Travel: NDC Progress, Booking.com Scrutiny, and AI Momentum in the Industry

Travel Tech Trends: Perplexity’s Booking Leap, Airbnb Incentives & AI-Powered Planning

AI, Antitrust & Algorithms: EU Targets Google, Travel Grapples with Generative Tech

This Week in Travel: Booking.com Phishing Scam, California’s AI Pricing Crackdown & More

Navigating the Future of Travel: AI Innovations, Record Marketing Investments & Regulatory Shifts

AI’s Impact on Travel: OpenAI’s “Operator” Tool and Its Disruptive Potential

Travel Tidbits: Breaking News and Insights from the Online Travel World

Online Travel Update: Google’s Shift on Cookies & Booking.com’s Legal Scrape

This week’s Online Travel Update: Amazon’s Prime Day travel offerings, Kayak’s new business booking features, and a record fine for Booking.com.

Unlocking Trends: HOTREC’s Distribution Insights and Kayak’s SME Revolution

Online Travel Update: Turbulent Times for Booking.com Amid EU Regulations

Big Changes in Online Travel: Transparency, Accessibility, and the Battle for Business Travelers

This Week in Online Travel: Appeals in Las Vegas Price-Fixing Case, Booking.com’s STR Push, and Hilton Expands into RV Bookings

Online Travel Update: American Airlines Softens Distribution Strategy, OTA Marketing Spend Surges

Online Travel Industry Updates: Key Interviews, Airline Policy Changes and New Travel Platform Launches

Digital Dynamics: Booking.com’s DMA Gatekeeper Role and AI’s Expanding Impact on Travel Planning

Online Travel Update: Google’s Cookie Policy Update, Shifts in Sustainable Travel Interest, and the Reality of Online Group Bookings

Travel Innovations and Challenges: DOT’s Loyalty Program Hearing, Sustainability Efforts by Google & Expedia, and Hotel Direct Booking Updates