Austria orders Booking.com to reveal host identities; Dominican Republic formalizes rentals

Austria's Supreme Court has mandated that Booking.com must promptly disclose the identity and contact information of individuals offering accommodations to customers immediately after a reservation. This landmark decision, announced by the Association for Consumer Information (VKI), targets the transparency of digital platforms in the booming short-term rental market.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the VKI on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs. While Austrian law requires customers to know the identity and address of accommodation providers, this was not clearly defined for private individuals using digital platforms. The VKI argued that entering a digital contract without knowing the other party hinders consumer protection in disputes. The court found it insufficient for host data to be provided only upon explicit request, emphasizing that knowing one's contractual partner is essential for asserting rights.

Coincidentally, the Dominican Republic is also moving to regulate short-term rentals. The Ministry of Tourism has proposed a national registry, Renatur, to identify and formalize properties used for short-term stays. This registry will be mandatory for all such accommodations, and properties must display a credential linked to their registration. The proposed regulations also place responsibilities on platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb, requiring them to verify Renatur accreditation for listed accommodations.

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Whoever closes a contract must know who they are doing it with. Only when consumers know who their counterparty is can they assert their rights, if necessary.