Call for OTAs to stop ‘brandjacking’ on Google

The UK Bed & Breakfast Association wants a ban on 'brandjacking' of hotel and B&B names on Google by online travel agencies (OTAs).

David Weston, B&B Association chairman, is urging the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to act after B&B owner and association member Frank McCready launched a petition on the UK government and Parliament site demanding a ban.

The government is pledged to respond to a petition which receives 10,000 or more signatures.

Weston said: "This practice enables the OTAs to colonise the top of search listings, even for searches of a hotel or B&B's own brand/name, without the owner's express permission.