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30 August 2012 10:15
A study of major UK hotel chains by consumer group Which? Travel magazine has said that nearly half are breaching regulations by not including VAT in headline prices online at some of their establishments.
The study found that of 24 hotel chains used by Which? readers, 11 included hotels that did not initially show VAT to those booking online.
Trading standards experts have warned hotels not displaying VAT that they are potentially breaching consumer protection regulations.
Which? Travel said it carried out its investigation after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint that VAT-exclusive prices of websites of Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) and its subsidiary Crowne Plaza were misleading and breached the ASA code.
Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, said many establishments were planning to change their practices in the light of the ASA judgment.
The magazine said chains that did include VAT in the headline prices included Barcelo (now Puma), Britannia, Best Western, Days Inn, De Vere, Holiday Inn Express, Ibis, Jury's Inn, Macdonald and Novotel.
