Agoda Dubbed ‘Hotel California’ in Asia as Hotel Suppliers Say They Can Never Leave
Photo Credit: Thu Nguyen at The Mothership Saigon, a 23-unit homesharing apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, is leading a boycott against Agoda. Christina’s
Skift Take
There appears to be a growing chorus of voices saying they are not able to completely delist themselves from Agoda, which begs the question why they want to do so in the first place.
In its recent management shakeup, Booking Holdings has said it is seeking to drive “more alignment” across its brands. Throughout Asia, there is a chorus of voices that wishes that Booking.com and its sister Agoda were more closely aligned — in ethos and ways of working.
Among them are homestay owners and hoteliers who have disconnected from Agoda, yet say the Asian online travel agency still hangs on to them, like a girlfriend or boyfriend that refuses to leave. That's because although they no longer want to work with Agoda, Agoda still lists their properties and, if these properties have a contract with Booking.com, is still able to book them.
Agoda is thus being dubbed “Hotel California” privately by some suppliers, thanks to the line from the Eagles hit song, “You can check out anytime you like, But you can never leave.”
But Why Leave?
This all begs the question: Why wouldn't homestays and hotels work with two sisters instead of one, which would expand their c
