Online travel companies sued for multi-million hotel taxes

September 09, 2008 | Online Travel

Online travel companies are facing a flurry of lawsuits from upset city officials who say they were bilked out of tens of millions of dollars in hotel and occupancy taxes. The lawsuits are challenging the pricing scheme used by the travel companies.

One of the stiffest challenges was outlined Monday in Georgia Supreme Court. The city of Atlanta claims in a lawsuit that Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia and 14 other online travel companies owe the city “untold” millions in unpaid taxes.

The lawsuit is among a growing number filed by officials who contend that city coffers have been shortchanged by the online travel sites. Similar challenges have also been filed in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago and the tourist town of Branson, Mo.

The lawsuits are challenging the pricing scheme used by the travel companies.

Get the full story at The Seattle Times

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