Hoshino Resorts reveal Agoda (subsidiary of Booking Holdings which also own Booking.com) engages in fraudulent resale of hotel rooms

Mebeater

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Hard truth is no matter what the hotel tells you that booking direct from them is the cheapest, it never is.
Most hotel especially chains do offer a Best Rate Guarantee. If you can find a cheaper booking anywhere else with the same exact room rates, the hotel will counter offer with a discount off the lower rate.
 

drkcynic

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At the end of the day, if all these chains are so "atas" then they should just declare that their hotels can ONLY be booked directly via their own websites, make it clear cut.

They want to have their cake and eat it, when something goes wrong want to kpkb.

Hoshino Resorts places importance on reservations made through its own website, and is also known for "narrowing down the number of travel agencies with which it partners and contracts," according to Sakurai.
 

michael_thm

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At the end of the day, if all these chains are so "atas" then they should just declare that their hotels can ONLY be booked directly via their own websites, make it clear cut.

They want to have their cake and eat it, when something goes wrong want to kpkb.

Hoshino Resorts places importance on reservations made through its own website, and is also known for "narrowing down the number of travel agencies with which it partners and contracts," according to Sakurai.
So they are supposed to ban all tour groups aka take only individual travelers since tour groups on trips organized by travel agencies do not do have tourists individually book their own rooms? :ROFLMAO:
 

randyap

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i have been booking with agoda all the while with no issues. My KL trip 2 days ago i booked a room with windows. Reached the hotel then the reception told me they only have rooms without windows left. And i am being forced to accept it as i have no other choice. Agoda compensated me with 6sgd and hotel compensate me with a flat white coffee worth 4 sgd. what a joke.
 

rrr2015

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At the end of the day, if all these chains are so "atas" then they should just declare that their hotels can ONLY be booked directly via their own websites, make it clear cut.

They want to have their cake and eat it, when something goes wrong want to kpkb.

Hoshino Resorts places importance on reservations made through its own website, and is also known for "narrowing down the number of travel agencies with which it partners and contracts," according to Sakurai.
yeah i remembered there was a case SG lady booked "atas" kyoto hotel via agoda but couldn't get a room when she reached there. not sure the outcome since can't find any updates.

there's always possibly that either side may be at fault, but OTA will get then blame first
 

rrr2015

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i have been booking with agoda all the while with no issues. My KL trip 2 days ago i booked a room with windows. Reached the hotel then the reception told me they only have rooms without windows left. And i am being forced to accept it as i have no other choice. Agoda compensated me with 6sgd and hotel compensate me with a flat white coffee worth 4 sgd. what a joke.
may i know which hotel u booked?
 

skytan13

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Hard truth is no matter what the hotel tells you that booking direct from them is the cheapest, it never is.
Unless those big chains with their own network of partnership programs.
 

tomsss

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i remember reading somewhere a good habit is to email the hotel itself after confirmation with agoda or whichever ota you use. that can save a lot of trouble rather than experiencing it on site on the actual day
 

XcoVar

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Seems like SG is a paradise for money launderers & Scammers.😂
 

drkcynic

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i remember reading somewhere a good habit is to email the hotel itself after confirmation with agoda or whichever ota you use. that can save a lot of trouble rather than experiencing it on site on the actual day
Yeah, I do that especially if I am going for long holidays with the family.

If go to those short trips to countries like TH VN MY alone or with friends then just risk it la since easy to find a hotel.
 

asiafrenz

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So far never had any issues with agoda booking so hopefully stays that way
 

xdivider

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this year for japan try to 2x check bookings due to the tourist overload........
 

swordspirit

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Think Agoda has problem if you book your hotel too early (i.e., they go through local partners but the local partners did not push the order to the hotel).

For those that say to apply best rate guarantee, have to say, most of the hotels are quite unwilling to attend this request (they cant replicate the discount since the discount is based on your bank cards that they dont have). As such, good luck spending long hours to match the price unless u are a frequent customer.
 

BioProEng

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been using agoda so far no issues
can EDMWers share real issues u experienced with agoda?
i recall not long after covid where we can go travel, got ppl report say make booking from agoda or booking, when arrive in Vietnam, the hotel does not even exist.

so far i heng also bah, no such issue. but i also random from agoda/booking/hotel/trip user.

maybe need observed more, if not like someone mentioned to email the hotel for the booking confirmation etc. or if staying branded, just book from the hotel direct (but often booking etc have better rates)
 

drkcynic

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Think Agoda has problem if you book your hotel too early (i.e., they go through local partners but the local partners did not push the order to the hotel).
I booked a family room in december under agoda. Ran booking trip expedia website agoda, all had the room available, and agoda was the cheapest.

Then after i reserved, i checked the rest of the sites, the family room was gone. Even though i didn't pay, only reserve and pay later it seems they do reserve. So before the trip in Dec, will email / call to confirm booking first before I turn up just to be sure.
 

rrr2015

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ill just share the message.
so probably there was mismatched between hotel & agoda system. that's why best to double check with hotel. at least yours not like atas hotel sayings no record of booking
 
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