Moroccan Hotels Win Dispute with Booking.com Over Commission Payments

"Following the meeting held with Booking representatives on August 1, 2023 and pending the completion of the steps currently being taken by this central to open a bank account in Morocco, the platform has agreed to cover the transfer fees of the commissions, including wire transfer fees, letter postage fees, as well as Swift transfer fees," Lahcen Zelmat, president of the National Federation of the Hotel Industry (FNIH), told La Vie éco. This should put an end to the tug-of-war between the Dutch group and Moroccan hoteliers.

Last month, Booking had, in a letter, informed its Moroccan tourist accommodation partners of the decision to pay commissions in foreign currency and not in dirhams, which had provoked the anger of the industry players. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Tourism, Crafts and Social and Solidarity Economy on July 14, the FNIH had denounced a "unilateral" decision that "harms the interests of national operators". Hoteliers had to pay significant commissions, but also bear an additional cost of 10% for withholding tax.

The federation had also called on the official to intervene with the head of government or the Minister of Economy and Finance, in order to cancel the platform’s decision. A meeting had been scheduled for August 2.