Travel JTA urges Agoda to address booking issues and improve operations

[thomas]

The Japan Tourism Agency has called on the Japanese branch of online travel platform Agoda Company Pte. to improve its operations following a series of booking issues, a source close to the matter revealed on Monday.

Back in March, the agency requested that Agoda International Japan take action after numerous incidents in which travellers arrived at their accommodations only to discover that their paid reservations were not recorded. In some cases, the reservation details shared with hotels were also inaccurate. Although the company submitted a plan to the agency in April outlining steps to resolve the issues, some hotel operators in Japan reported that similar problems were still happening as of June.

Based in Singapore, Agoda, a subsidiary of the world's leading online travel service provider, Booking Holdings Inc., provides services in 39 languages and employs staff in 27 markets, according to the company. If the company fails to implement drastic measures, the Japanese government may impose administrative penalties, according to the source. Toyoko Inn Co., which operates a major hotel chain in Japan, warned travellers on its website on June 16 about booking issues involving Agoda and its partner firms. It cited cases of incorrect room types and reservation dates, as well as instances where rooms were listed on Agoda at significantly higher prices than those set by the hotels. Toyoko Inn stated that various issues have arisen from the resale of rooms by Agoda's partner companies, and that travellers must contact those firms directly to resolve problems, including reservation cancellations.

Travel firm Agoda urged to improve business after booking troubles - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan Tourism Agency has urged the Japanese arm of online travel agency Agoda Company Pte. to improve its business practices due

mainichi.jp