Complaint Number: 25/317
Advertiser: Booking.com
Advertisement: Booking.com Digital Marketing
Date of Decision: 29 January 2026
Outcome: Settled

Advertisement:The Booking.com website advertisement described the property available to hire .it also included the following text “Property Information – The original owner of
the house, General Olsen, was an Air Force general during World War ll. He
bought this land and build the house, so the street is named after General
“Olsen”. There are more than 20 pieces of pear wood furniture that General Olsen
bought from Vietnam during World War II and uses till now. When you are in this
ancient house, in addition to feeling the peaceful and comfortable environment
we have created for you, you may also feel the ancient story.”

Complaint: The advertisement is currently viewable by searching for “5 Olsen
Close, Hamilton” on Booking .com.
I am unable to forward the complete advertisement as it seems to be blocked.
However, the relevant page is above. The title of the advert’ also may be identified
by the wording – “Golden Harvest Retreat”.
Under the heading of “Property Information” on the attached page is a narrative
which is completely false. My family lived in the house between 1987 and 2014. The
house was built in 1077 by the Burt family and if a person such as General Olsen
existed, he never lived on this property.

Relevant Codes: Advertising Standards Code – Principle 2, Rule 2 (b) Truthful
Presentation

Decision: The Complaints Board Chair accepted the complaint to go before the
Complaints Board to consider whether the Advertising Standards Code had been
breached. As part of the self-regulatory process, advertisers have the option of
amending or removing their advertising after receiving a complaint. In this case
the Advertiser confirmed they had amended the advertisement to remove the
text that had been complained abou