Latest news with #EaseMyTrip
Mint
9 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Consumer watchdog to turn the screws on hotels and online aggregators making false claims
New Delhi: Online travel aggregators often get away with blaming hotels for misleading consumers, but they may not be able to for too long. If the hotel room you booked via a travel aggregator falls short of what was promised online, India's consumer protection watchdog wants to hold the booking platform accountable. While properties making misleading claims would have to be delisted from platforms such as MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Yatra, the Central Consumer Protection Authority also plans to fix responsibility on aggregators that fail to vet property claims or don't act on consumer complaints. 'The CCPA has come to know through various social media posts that several online platforms are failing to verify the authenticity of claims made by property owners and are listing properties without proper checks. This constitutes an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act," an official involved in CCPA's process told Mint. CCPA plans to review hotel listings and claims made by aggregators as well as analyse complaints on social media platforms or the National Consumer Helpline to identify patterns of misleading claims and recurring service deficiencies, the official said. The consumer protection watchdog also plans to hold meetings with booking aggregators and representatives from the hotel industry to assess how properties are vetted and the redressal mechanisms available for consumers, said a second official. CCPA is likely to issue an advisory in consultation with the industry to protect the interests of consumers, this official added. Queries emailed to the spokespersons of MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, Agoda, and Ixigo on 14 July, and to the consumer affairs ministry on 21 July remained unanswered. A matter of trust CCPA's move is aimed at ensuring greater accountability and transparency on online travel and accommodation booking platforms, which have become the go-to tools for domestic and international travellers. 'These platforms are trusted by users who often pay in advance, but when the promised services are not delivered, consumers find themselves at the mercy of the aggregators to secure refunds. This process is neither fair nor consumer-friendly," said Ashim Sanyal, chief executive of Consumer Voice, a nonprofit consumer protection group. Hotel industry experts are also on board with CCPA's plans, saying unethical listings on online aggregators were damaging traveler trust and affecting genuine hoteliers. Ved Khanna, board member, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, said a recurring concern was listings on digital booking platforms falsely showing substandard properties as 3-star or 4-star hotels. 'This not only damages traveler trust but also affects genuine hoteliers and licensed operators in the region. Tourism bodies are urging the platforms to be accountable and strictly verify listings, particularly in sensitive destinations like Kashmir, where a bad experience could disproportionately amplify apprehensions," said Khanna. India's online travel market—which includes online travel agencies, direct bookings, and other digital travel services—is projected to grow to $124 billion by 2033 from $51 billion in 2024, according to market research firm IMARC. What CCPA can do The Central Consumer Protection Authority, India's newest regulator, has been actively taking on companies across sectors, including e-commerce giants, cab aggregators, coaching centres, and even celebrities and influencers for misleading consumers. Mint reported on 10 March 2024 that CCPA had facilitated refunds amounting to ₹1,453 crore for air tickets booked during the covid-19 pandemic. The refunds were secured from travel aggregators including Yatra, MakeMyTrip, ClearTrip, EaseMyTrip, Ixigo, and Thomas Cook. The regulator can impose penalties of up to ₹50 lakh on entities found making misleading advertisements and false claims or refusing to refund payments to consumers, which are defined as unfair trade practices under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. CCPA is also empowered to initiate class action proceedings against offenders on behalf of a group of affected consumers, as per Section 18(2)(b) of the Consumer Protection Act. The authority can also file complaints before the Consumer Commission in cases involving unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, or violations of consumer rights.
India.com
2 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
WCL sponsors BREAK silence after much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash gets cancelled due to…
WCL sponsors BREAK silence after much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash gets cancelled due to… EaseMyTrip, a major WCL sponsor, clarified on social media that they had previously cleared they won't be connected to any WCL match that featured Pakistan. By Sruti Thakur Edited by Sruti Thakur Advertisement Suresh Raina (L), Shahid Afridi (R0 The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match between the champions of India and Pakistan, which was supposed to take place on Saturday, July 20 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been canceled. The decision was taken following widespread fan outrage and a number of players decision to boycott in protest of the terrible Pahalgam terrorist attack in April, which killed numerous innocent civilians. The League sponsor EaseMyTrip has now released a statement about the situation, as fans will not be able to witness the match between Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez and the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina. Advertisement === EaseMyTrip's official statement on Ind vs Pak clash in WCL 2025 EaseMyTrip clarified through social media that they won't be associated with any WCL match featuring Pakistan. Advertisement === 'Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team,' the statement read. 'However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. Let's bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always,' the statement further read. Official Statement from EaseMyTrip Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan We… — (@EaseMyTrip) July 19, 2025 Shikhar Dhawan, along with several player boycotts Ind vs Pak match Several Indian players had already pulled out before the match between the champions of India and Pakistan was formally canceled. Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan made a public announcement on social media on the evening of July 19 that he would not be participating in the game. 'Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota (The step I took on May 11, I still stand by it today. My country means everything to me—nothing comes above the nation.),' Dhawan wrote. According to a previous Revsportz report, on July 20, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Harbhajan Singh all withdrew from the match.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
EaseMyTrip withdraws sponsorship of Cricket league over Pakistan participation, says: We support Team India, but ...; Shikhar Dhawan shares his email
Travel-tech Portal EaseMyTrip has withdrawn its sponsorship of the World Championship of Legends (WCL). In a statement, the company said that despite entering into a five-year sponsorship agreement with WCL two years ago, it will not associate with or participate in any match involving Pakistan. The India vs Pakistan match has been officially called off, following strong objections from Indian players and tournament sponsor, EaseMyTrip. India and Pakistan were scheduled to face off in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday July 20. What EaseMyTrip said on withdrawing from WCL Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team. However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. WCL organisers issue public apology The tournament organisers issued a formal apology for "hurting sentiments" and "causing discomfort" to the Indian legends. In a statement, WCL organisers said the India-Pakistan fixture was scheduled in the spirit of fostering goodwill, taking inspiration from a recent friendly volleyball match between the two countries. 'The fixture was planned to create happy memories for fans,' the statement read. 'But we understand that it may have caused unease to the Indian legends and fans. We sincerely apologise for hurting sentiments and have decided to cancel the match.' Indian cricket players announce boycott Earlier, several Indian players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan also announced that they would not be playing the India-Pakistan game. Reports said that some other players in the India line-up have also taken a similar stance. In a post on social media platform Twitter, Dhawan shared an email he had sent to WCL organisers on May 11. 'Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota (I stand by the decision I made on May 11. My country is everything for me, and nothing is greater than the nation,' Dhawan wrote. India Legends are the defending champions of the WCL, having defeated Pakistan in last year's final. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
What is cricket's World Championship of Legends, which saw the Ind vs Pak match cancelled?
Slated to be held at Edgbaston on Sunday (July 20), the India vs Pakistan match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) was cancelled following recent military tensions between the countries after the Pahalgam attack in April. Several Indian players, including Harbhajan Singh and the Pathan brothers, were reported to have announced their withdrawal in the lead-up. While Shikhar Dhawan shared his formal communication of withdrawal on his X account, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina reposted a message from the WCL sponsor and the Indian travel bookings website, EaseMyTrip. 'Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan… as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan', the post said. Here is what to know about the tournament in question. This is the second edition of the WCL, with India winning the inaugural league last year in the final against Pakistan. It has been described as a 'showcase of retired and non-contracted players from cricketing giants, including England, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa' on its website. Some of the cricketers participating this year are West Indies' player Chris Gayle, South Africa's AB de Villiers, Australia's Brett Lee, Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and England's Kevin Pietersen. Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and musician Harshit Tomar own the WCL. This year, it will feature matches in four UK cities: Birmingham, Northampton, Leeds, and Leicester. The now-cancelled India vs Pakistan match had tickets beginning from £24 (Rs 2,772), with the VIP experience priced at £186 (Rs 21,490). The idea of a tournament featuring former pro players isn't novel; other matches and series have also been held in the past. A decade ago, a Twenty20 exhibition series was held in the United States at three baseball stadiums, with teams led by Sachin Tendulkar and the late Shane Warne. Just this year, another series called the International Masters League had its inaugural season in India. It was co-founded by Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. What did the organisers say about the cancellation? In a post on X, the WCL said, 'After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.' They added, 'We unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game. Hence, we have decided to call off the India-Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans.' There is no official policy on retired Indian players playing Pakistani teams at such events, and it also poses questions about the latter part of the tournament, where the two teams might meet in the semi-finals or the final. The decision likely stemmed from the players and organisers' views, as well as the prevailing public opinion in India. However, several sporting events have seen the repercussions of the larger diplomatic tensions between the countries of late. Earlier this month, it was learnt that India will allow Pakistani players to visit the country to participate in non-bilateral events. An Indian sporting official said, 'While India won't be involved in the bilateral engagement with Pakistan, we won't be stopping them from participating in the multi-national tournaments India is hosting.' This may not necessarily mean that Pakistan's cricketers will travel to India, as the two countries have mutually decided to play at neutral venues until 2027. The last Indian team to cross the border for cricket was M S Dhoni's side that played the Asia Cup in June-July 2008, a few months before the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks ended such tours. While Pakistan came to India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023, India played the Asia Cup matches in Sri Lanka. India also played its ICC Champions tournament matches earlier this year in Dubai, since Pakistan hosted the event. Amid strained ties, the two countries haven't held a bilateral series since 2013, only playing at multi-team events. That period has also seen the rise of Indian cricket and the decline of Pakistan. The country has also been shut out from the biggest money-spinning tournament in the sport, the Indian Premier League, after the inaugural 2008 season.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
WCL sponsor boycotts Pakistan as organisers cancel India match: 'We do not support match that includes Pakistan'
The fallout from the controversy surrounding the now-cancelled India vs Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 continues, as one of the major sponsors has announced a boycott of Pakistan's matches in the tournament. read more The World Championship of Legends (WCL) organisers are facing immense criticism on social media as they were forced to cancel the India vs Pakistan match, scheduled for Sunday (20 July) at Edgbaston. Now, one of the major sponsors of the event, an Indian company, has distanced itself from the matches against Pakistan, stating that they don't want to be a part of any games involving the Pakistan legends. EaseMyTrip, a travel-tech company and the official sponsor of the WCL, has released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) stating that they had informed the organisers at the start of the 2025 tournament that they do not want to associate with Pakistan matches. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD EaseMyTrip distances itself from matches vs Pakistan 'Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team,' the sponsor said on X. Official Statement from EaseMyTrip Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear—EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan We… — (@EaseMyTrip) July 19, 2025 'However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. Let's bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always,' the sponsor added. Meanwhile, the WCL organisers have apologised for 'hurting' the sentiments of Indian fans. They also regretted causing 'discomfort' to Indian legends and 'affecting' their sponsors. 'More than that, we unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game,' WCL said in a statement. Meanwhile, a report has claimed that the match was cancelled after former Indian cricket greats, including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh pulled out from the contest against Pakistan. The legendary Indian cricketers were reportedly not happy that Shahid Afridi, a well-known critic of the Indian government, was part of the match.
