As more than a
third of bookings in the European hotel sector are already made via real-time
online channels, SMEs are very much dependant of their proper online
visibility.
UEAPME and HOTREC (the umbrella Association of Hotels, Restaurants
and Cafes in Europe) therefore asked the EC to ensure that organic search
results have a fair chance for top – or at least prominent – appearance in
search result pages besides commercial or promoted results. The organic Google
search results page is one of the most important places where SMEs, as for
example independent and small hotels and restaurants, need a fair chance to be
directly visible and to offer a direct link to their services. EC has been
requested not to close the competition case against Google, as the latter's
proposed commitments (intending to fix practices for the years ahead) do not
provide sufficient guarantees to ensure fair online searches for the benefits
of all businesses or consumers alike.