Then Expedia Happened

EXPEDIA FRAUD OCTOBER 2020 – Here we go Again! THIS IS A LIE!!!!

Since July 2018, Expedia has steered people away from Touchstone with lies as shown below in this web page, saying:

“THIS PROPERTY REQUIRES YOU TO STAY AT LEAST 3 NIGHTS

“UNAVAILABLE” – ALL LIES!

Are there any attorneys out there willing to help me sue Expedia for fraud???

Of all the THOUSANDS of people who viewed our sight and photos in February 2019, Not ONE booked because Expedia told everyone that THIS PROPERTY IS SOLD OUT and they continue to do so!

We appreciate your business no matter how you came to us, but if you use Expedia or any other OTA, please be aware that you are unwittingly supporting a Foreign Invasion that is destroying the Hotel Industry and undermining our communities’ tax base. Six large hotels in Taos have closed in the past 2 years, as well as many businesses, two of the most prestigious Galleries in Taos and one of our best Museums have closed. Please BOOK DIRECT with your choice of hotel’s OFFICIAL site. Our communities are imploding before our very eyes – WAKE UP! It is happening in your town too.

Expedia controls over 20 Online Travel Agencies which showed 48 visits to Touchstone in February 2019, at their site who did not book with us because Expedia announced to the world, THIS PROPERTY IS SOLD OUT! We have filed a complaint with our State’s Attorney General, but this is a Federal problem with a Foreign entity.  The State of Utah has recently filed charges against Expedia and hopefully more agencies will come to the aid of hoteliers!

Our High season is May through October and Holidays – the above screen shot shows of 4,567 people found us on Google for February 2019, low season but with a 4 day Federal Holiday and Valentine’s Day Weekend! We have never been not booked for these holidays until this year.

Not only did they suspend our account from booking in July of 2018 and forward, they redirected traffic away from our site by announcing to the world, THIS PROPERTY IS BOOKED! when in fact, we have had no guests.  They have hijacked my website and redirect traffic elsewhere when anyone tries to find us.

This Screen Shot shows 4,557 people found us on Google in February 2019, 30 visited our site and not one booked – because Expedia announced to the world that THIS PROPERTY IS BOOKED!

This Screen Shot shows that Expedia has been purposefully targeting my website in a premeditated campaign to ruin my business. They could just exclude us from bookings, but they are impeding bookings by redirecting traffic away from us.  Their actions have endangered my whole family and my grandson who is on dialysis.

Our lowest price room is $125 per night and we have a 2 night minimum = $250 sans taxes and fees. This translates to a loss of $250 x 48 = $12,000 which once was a standard month for us. This has been going on since July 2018 which translates to a considerable loss  for which Expedia is liable.

They demanded Direct Debit Mandate from our bank account so that they could collect fees directly – when I refused, they suspended our account; I finally caved in September and set up a bank account so they could withdraw fees, and they promptly stole $240 from me.  They are demanding that I sign up for their Virtual Card where clients book on their credit card system -( we have our own system and our own American processor), they want to collect and pay me later whatever they deem they owe me. They have hijacked my website and redirect traffic elsewhere when anyone tries to find us. 40% off the top of gross in commissions, taxes and fees is not sustainable for the hotel industry – this is happening all over the world. Expedia is not an American company and there is no regulation of this company, it is like dealing with the Mafia.  With their Direct Debit Mandate set up and hotels forced to be on their Virtual Card, they laugh all the way to the bank and hotels are paying 40% off the top in commissions, taxes and fees – not sustainable. You want to vacation in a nice hotel? Book Direct next time before all go under!