Russia’s Largest Hotel Chains Halt Sales via Yandex Travel

Hoteliers protest commission increase

Russia’s largest hotel operators have stopped selling rooms through the Yandex Travel service following an increase in the base commission from 15% to 17% effective February 1. The decision affects networks managing tens of thousands of rooms and has become one of the most significant conflicts between hoteliers and an aggregator in Russia’s online booking market, Forbes reports. Operators warn of rising prices, risks to tourism investment, and broader industry consequences.

Which hotel chains halted sales

The decision affects around 50,000 hotel rooms, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry. Sales were suspended by Azimut Hotels, Cosmos Hotel Group, Mantera Group, Alean Collection, Russkie Sezony, Accor, Atelika, and Cronwell Group.

Earlier, the union and hotel operators had asked the aggregator to maintain the previous commission level but were refused. Operators then began gradually disconnecting their properties from the platform. Azimut Hotels CEO Maxim Brodovsky said the new conditions do not reflect market principles and directly affect accommodation prices for guests.

“We support transparent, competitive, and fair rules for all market participants — without commission imbalances, restrictions on rate management and booking terms, or practices that reduce the effectiveness of direct sales and partner channels,” he said.

Mantera Group CEO Vadim Trukshin stated that the commission increase creates risks for the entire domestic tourism industry and could trigger similar actions by other aggregators. He noted that maintaining the commission at 15% is economically justified to preserve affordable accommodation and support investment in development. He added that the additional financial burden contradicts government tourism support objectives, as funds intended for infrastructure development are redirected to intermediaries.

Pressure on the hotel business

Hoteliers note that the commission increase comes amid rising operating costs. Expenses for energy, food, IT services, and labor are increasing, while staffing shortages persist and tax pressure grows, including higher VAT and tourism taxes.

Even a small increase in commission affects room pricing and reduces profitability under these conditions. Market participants say this will lead to higher accommodation costs and limit investment capacity.

Cosmos Hotel Group also emphasized that hotels cannot indefinitely absorb additional costs. This reduces room profitability and affects service levels. As a result, part of the financial burden is passed on to guests.

Small and mid-sized hotels, as well as regional properties, remain particularly vulnerable, as aggregators are often their primary customer acquisition channel.

Risks to hotel investment and industry development

Market participants believe further commission increases could jeopardize investment programs and new hotel construction, especially in regional markets. For some properties, this becomes a matter of financial sustainability.

Hoteliers also note that aggregators have alternative ways to generate revenue through paid promotion tools, priority placement, advanced analytics, and advertising options. This approach allows base cooperation terms to remain stable and reduces pressure on the industry. Under the new conditions, investment in hotels in Russia becomes less attractive.

Industry representatives warn that the decision by the largest aggregator could trigger similar moves by other platforms. This would increase distribution costs and put additional pressure on business economics. Funds intended for infrastructure upgrades, service improvements, and room modernization would instead be redirected to intermediaries, limiting investment in hotel projects.

Yandex Travel’s position

The Yandex Travel press service said the commission increase is linked to investment in platform development amid audience growth. Partners were notified in advance of the changes.

The company expanded its Premium and Premium PRO programs and introduced new promotion tools, including hotel placement in flight and rail ticket search results and priority positioning on the platform’s homepage. These tools help improve property visibility and attract more guests, platform representatives said.

Shift in the online booking market balance

Analysts at International Investment note the growing influence of aggregators in Russia’s hotel market and rising tensions between platforms and operators. Commission policies are becoming a key factor affecting business economics, hotel investment, and accommodation pricing.

The decision by Russia’s largest hotel chains to halt sales via Yandex Travel has become one of the most notable developments in Russia’s online booking market and may affect further interaction between industry companies, as well as pricing policy and accommodation accessibility for tourists.