Google Flights and Hotels Make Europe-Mandated Transparency Changes ... in Europe


Google made changes to Google Flights and Hotels related to transparency in hotel reviews and pricing under pressure from the European Commission — but stopped short of making those modifications elsewhere in the world.

"Reviews aren't verified," Google states in the European Union. Source: Google

At the behest of the European Commission, Google added text in hotel reviews in European Union countries, noting "Reviews aren't verified."

Unlike online travel agencies, Google doesn't take bookings so it would be hard-pressed to verify user reviews. Tripadvisor, likewise, doesn't verify hotel reviews for the same reason.

Clicking further into Google's explanatory language about user reviews in Europe, Google states