FAS RUSSIA WARNS HOTELS AND TOUR OPERATORS AGAINST UNILATERAL CANCELLATION OF BOOKINGS OF HOTEL ROOMS AND TOURS

This practice is unfair and entails civil and administrative liability

The FAS Russia together with the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) and the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) issued a tripartite letter to curb unfair practices by the accommodation facilities and tour operators. We are talking about the unilateral cancellation of booking of rooms or tours by the economic entities, and the revision of the terms of previously concluded agreements on rendering of hotel and tourism services with a view to renegotiate them on new terms at a higher price.

The reason for the preparation of the tripartite letter was information on individual cases when the accommodation facilities unilaterally canceled previously made bookings.

The letter states that accommodation facilities (hotels, guest-houses, etc.) and tour operators are not entitled to:

- refuse to execute agreements concluded with consumers of hotel or tourism services;

- refuse to fulfill the obligations to provide services at the prices and within the terms specified by the agreement with a view to renegotiate it with the same or other consumers on new, more favorable terms, for example, at a higher price due to increased consumer demand;

- unilaterally change the terms of contracts.

Such actions are a violation of the legislation and may entail civil and administrative liability in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation.