Digital Services in the Area of Accommodation and Transportation: Economic and Legal Aspects

Please note: Each In-Depth Analysis is assigned a DOI (digital object identifier), which is a safe and long term way of ensuring a hyperlink to the full text of this report. However, when ESO creates this record, on occasion the DOI still has not been activated by the EU Bookshop. If you find the source url hyperlink does not work please use the alternative location hyperlink listed as a related url.This paper examines the development of digital business models in the provision of flights and short-term accommodation services. It discusses the growing importance of digital intermediaries and their associated business model features, some of which provide significant value, and others which could be considered deleterious and in need of regulatory scrutiny. The paper concludes with some suggestions for regulation based on technology, algorithms and big data analytics. This could enable a more soft-touch, automatic, dynamic and individualised approach to regulation.

This research paper was commissioned by Policy Department of DG Internal Policies of the European Parliament at the request of the EP Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, January 2018: Digital Services in the Area of Accommodation and Transportation: Economic and Legal Aspects http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2018/614220/IPOL_IDA(2018)614220_EN.pdf

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