Is not visitscotland.com in effect competing with the businesses it holds on the National database supplied by VisitScotland?
A. Effectively your business is being promoted on the National website as a visitscotland.com product, rather than in its own right. Each web entry uses techniques to convey and emphasise the impression that the expected way to book the accommodation is via visitscotland.com. The techniques are:- ….. Presentation of the call centre number in prominent places ….. Use of wording implying that visitscotland.com are involved with the business “To book call us on 0845 2255 121 (my italics) or “Book by phone” linking to the call centre number). ….. Allowing access to provider’s own contact details only via an obscure hyperlink so people are less likely to discover them. The result is that consumers who might prefer to contact and book direct with the provider are discouraged from doing so in order that the business is obtained instead by visitscotland.com. Clearly that’s direct competition with all providers by visitscotland.com.
