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OpenAI unveils AI agent Operator to book travel
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: OpenAI has officially unveiled one of its first AI agents called Operator, a system that can use its own browser to make travel reservations, fill out forms, order groceries and even create memes.
Romania to tighten grip on unlicensed rentals
Reading Time: 2 minutesRomania: The Romanian Government is planning to tighten its grip on illegal short-term rentals listed on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com in the country.
European Union to hike VAT on sharing economy platforms
Reading Time: 2 minutesEstonia / EU: EU diplomats have reached an agreement on VAT [value-added tax] rule reforms that would result in tax hikes for sharing economy platforms including Airbnb and ride-sharing service Uber after Estonia dropped its previous veto position.
Airbnb partners with the IAFCI to combat travel scams
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Airbnb has partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators [IAFCI] to help travellers book safely online and combat travel scams as consumers continue to make holiday plans around the world.
New ‘junk fee’ transparency law comes into effect in California
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Sweeping new laws have come into effect in the US state of California that require travel sellers and other types of businesses to include all mandatory fees or last-minute charges in the upfront displayed price.
Booking.com warns of 900 per cent rise in AI-related travel scams
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: Marnie Wilking, chief information security officer at Booking.com, has issued a warning about the role that artificial intelligence [AI] is playing in the significant rise in travel scams over the last 18 months.
Booking.com investigated over Israeli settlement listing allegations
Reading Time: 2 minutesNetherlands: The Dutch Public Prosecutor [OM] is investigating a criminal complaint filed by human rights groups against Amsterdam-headquartered online travel agency Booking.com over the alleged listing of vacation homes in Israeli settlements.
OTAs accused of illegal subletting crackdown failure in London
Reading Time: 3 minutesUK: Online travel agencies Airbnb and Booking.com have been accused of failing to crack down on the illegal subletting of social housing in London by local councils.
Estonia vetoes EU VAT proposals for sharing economy services
Reading Time: 3 minutesEstonia / EU: Estonia has vetoed plans to introduce VAT on sharing economy services such as Airbnb and Bolt in the European Union at a meeting with finance ministers in Brussels.
Short Stay Summit 2024: STAA chair Fiona MacConnacher
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: Fiona MacConnacher, the new chair of the UK Short Term Accommodation Association and public affairs manager, UK & Ireland at Booking.com, speaks to STRz at the 2024 Short Stay Summit.