EXPEDIA and TripAdvisor have filed antitrust complaints against Google with the European Commission, joining a growing list of companies who have accused the Internet search giant of breaching European Union (EU) competition laws by rigging online search results.

Complaints by the two OTAs reportedly centred on Google Flight Search, a new web-based service launched last year that allows users to search for and purchase airline tickets, similar to services offered by Expedia and TripAdvisor.

So far, the EU competition watchdog has received 13 separate complaints, all of which claim that Google is rigging online search results to direct users to its own services, while reducing the visibility of competing websites and services.

The Commission’s initial findings will be revealed later this month, according to Joaquin Almunia, EU commissioner.

PAN PACIFIC Hotels Group will open the Pan Pacific Tianjin in 2013, adding to three other properties scheduled for launch in Ningbo and Shanghai this year.

Offering panoramic views of Haihe River, the 330-room Pan Pacific Tianjin will form part of The Esplanade, a mixed-use development comprising residential apartments, a retail mall and an office tower.

The hotel will feature an all-day dining outlet, a Chinese restaurant and a lobby lounge. Facilities include an executive lounge, a business centre, an indoor swimming pool, a health club and spa, and several meeting and function spaces.

“Pan Pacific Tianjin marks our ongoing commitment to grow our brand footprint in China, a key growth market for the group,” said A. Patrick Imbardelli, president & chief executive of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

The hotel chain will also open Pan Pacific Ningbo and Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Ningbo this June, while its Parkroyal brand will debut in China when the Parkroyal Service Suites Green City, Shanghai opens by end-2012.

Outside China, Parkroyal on Pickering, the flagship Parkroyal in Singapore will launch in November 2012. A serviced suites project is also slated to open in Singapore by year-end.

Meanwhile, Pan Pacific Singapore has released more details of its upcoming multi-million dollar facelift.

The extensive S$80 million (US$63 million) makeover for the 790-room hotel will see guest rooms, restaurants and the lobby undergo a major transformation. The highlight addition will be the 360-degree view Pacific Club on the topmost floor.

Pan Pacific Singapore will close on April 15 and is scheduled to re-open part of its premises and facilities – 150 rooms and public areas on level one – from August 2012, and is expected to be fully operational in September.

JET Airways has threatened to pull its inventory from leading Indian OTAs if they refuse to abolish a controversial practice that only reveals the carrier’s identity after a customer has purchased a flight ticket to a particular destination.

Recently, OTAs such as MakeMyTrip.com, Yatra.com and Goibibo.com have been found to be offering heavily discounted tickets without revealing the airline’s identity until payment is completed.

Some customers who booked flights operated by Kingfisher Airlines were subsequently left stranded when the beleaguered airline culled its operations.

Nikos Kardassis, CEO, Jet Airways described the ongoing practice as a “scam” and “damaging (to) the market”. The airline has since filed a complaint with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Many travel trade members have also expressed discontent about this non-transparent method of selling air tickets.

Rakesh Lamba, director, Prakriti Holidays New Delhi said: “It is of utmost importance for travel consultants to provide transparent and legitimate services to passengers. We do not mask and sell.”

Anju Desai, vice president, HMA Travel Mumbai warned: “Selling tickets below cost may be more damaging than empty seats on flights.”

One of the OTAs, MakeMyTrip.com, has since promised that it will relook the way it displays fares on its portal.

TWO Hotel G properties – Pullman Bangkok Hotel G and Pullman Pattaya Hotel G – are scheduled to open in Thailand this month, marking the next phase in the development of the new designer lifestyle hotel brand.

The two properties will be operated under a franchise agreement with Accor’s Pullman Hotels & Resorts, and will join the existing Hotel G in Beijing.

Located on Silom Road, the 470-room Pullman Bangkok Hotel G will offer 12 meeting rooms, a ballroom offering panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline, and an executive lounge.

The 353-room Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, located at Wongamart Beach in North Pattaya, will offer two outdoor pools, a private beach, a beach club and terrace, a range of indoor and outdoor beachfront dining options, an Aisawan Spa, and a fitness centre.

The Pattaya property will also offer MICE facilites for up to 1,700 guests, including 13 meeting rooms, and a ballroom with seating for 600 pax.

AMERICAN Airlines (AA) and British Airways (BA) have embarked on a codeshare arrangement on BA flights from London to five Indian cities.

Effective March 29, AA will codeshare on BA flights from London (Heathrow) to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, complementing its existing services to India through codeshare flights with Jet Airways via Brussels.

The new codeshare agreement is a win-win for both carriers. BA customers will gain access to more flexible transatlantic routes, while AA will be able to leverage on BA’s 40 per cent market share on London-India connections.

“India remains one of our most important longhaul destinations and this codeshare service with American Airlines will serve as the perfect complement to our existing European routes, providing customer access to the US, Canada & Mexico,” said Christopher Fordyce, BA regional commercial manager – South Asia.

Ashwini Gupta, managing partner, Dove Travels Amritsar said: “This (arrangement) will enhance transatlantic flight options to Canada, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami – all frequent and popular destinations for Indian outbound travellers.”

The partnership comes on the heels of an agreement signed last December between AA and OpenSkies (a premium subsidiary of BA) to codeshare on flights between New York (Newark) and Paris (Orly).

THE MALAYSIAN government has advised Malaysians against travelling to southern Thailand in the aftermath of car bombings in Hat Yai and Yala last weekend, while Firefly has postponed the launch of inaugural flights to the region.

The Star quoted Malaysian foreign minister Anifah Aman as saying that those who intended to visit the area should only do so for urgent matters, and should inform the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla as a precaution.

Meanwhile, Firefly has deferred the launch of its newest route between Subang and Hat Yai originally scheduled for May 2.

Ignatius Ong, Malaysia Airlines/Firefly COO shorthaul said: “We will postpone commencement of these flights until we think it is safe to fly. We will make an announcement of a new commencement date when the situation in Hat Yai is back to normal.”

Albert Tan, managing director, Tongyan Travel & Tours Penang said: “Outbound travel to southern Thailand will be seriously affected for at least three months due to safety concerns.”

“However, I still expect to see Thais travelling from the south into Malaysia for leisure. This will not be affected to the same extent.”

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also urged Singaporeans to postpone all non-essential travel to the region.

TAUZIA Hotel Management launched last weekend the Harris Hotel & Residence Sunset Road, the group’s fourth Harris-branded property in Bali and 11th in Indonesia.

Located at the crossroads of Kuta, Sanur, Seminyak and Denpasar on Sunset Road, the hotel, which soft-opened last December, offers 186 rooms and suites, a Harris Cafe, a juice bar, a spa, a kids’ club, and complimentary Internet access in all rooms and public areas.

MICE facilities include a ballroom with overall capacity for up to 500 pax, but divisible into five different meeting room configurations, with capacity ranging from 30-400 pax, theatre-style.

Hengky Tambayong, general manager, Harris Hotel & Residence Sunset Road said: “With a total area of 5,500m2, the hotel will continue to develop. We will have a dedicated spa area (a converted room currently functions as the treatment area), another ballroom with capacity for 1,800 people, and a landscaped garden.”

Launched with a room price starting from 555,000 rupiah (US$60) per night, Tambayong is targeting an average occupancy of 60-70 per cent this year, with a mix of clientele from the leisure, family, business and MICE segments.

Commenting on whether Bali was becoming oversaturated with room inventory, Tauzia Hotel Management president director, Marc Steinmeyer, said: “Some areas of Bali already have too many hotels, I agree, and we will not have any new Harris hotel projects (in these areas).”

“There is still, however, room in the north of Bali for budget properties, and we will have one POP! Hotel (opening) in Singaraja.”

TAMAN Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan dan Ratu Boko (TWCBP&RB), which manages the Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko temple complexes in Yogjakarta, is looking to hike the access fee to the summit of Borobudur to around US$20 per person, starting June 1.

The management has been charging US$15 per international visitor, and between 12,500 rupiah (US$1.40) and 25,000 rupiah per domestic visitor to climb the temple, depending on seasonality.

TWCBP&RB marketing director Agus Canny said: “We are still working on (implementing) the (new) pricing. With Ankor Wat as (our) benchmark, we are looking at around US$20 (per climb), which will give visitors access to the top of the temple.”

“A smaller entrance fee will be introduced for access to the temple complex and information centre,” he added. “(Visitors) can still enjoy the temple, take pictures and get information on Borobudur, but will not be allowed to climb the temple.”

Discounted student group pricing will still be available once the changes take effect, but only on a single student-designated day each week, compared to everyday currently.

According to Canny, the new pricing policy was a result of a two-year study on how TWCBP&RB could better manage the UNESCO World Heritage site, and keep within its maximum load capacity of between 5,000-10,000 pax at any one time.

“We also received complaints from international travellers on the different pricing, as if we are discriminating against them,” he said.

Canny acknowledged that Borobudur might see a drop in arrivals, especially from the domestic market in the beginning.

THOMAS Cook Group, which put its 77.1 per cent stake in Thomas Cook India up for sale in February, has received several offers from companies ranging from conglomerates and private equity firms to travel agencies.

Credit Suisse Group, entrusted with conducting the sale, has shortlisted five of the nine offers received so far, which were in the range of Rs50-60 (US$0.99-1.18) per share. Thomas Cook India shares are currently hovering around the Rs65 mark.

Tata Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, has offered to buy the stake through its finance arm, Tata Capital.

Other expressions of interest are from private equity companies such as Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts, Fairbridge Capital and Carlyle, foreign exchange business Travelex, and the Japan Travel Bureau.

Fresh bids have been invited from those already short-listed, and are to be submitted by mid-April, after which the best offer will be chosen.

The sale is expected to be completed by June 2012.