[runsfromfire]

If most/all of the major players used the same consulting firm, wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest that borders on - perhaps even is outright - breaking the law?

[margalabargala]

My understanding is that it goes well beyond that. If I recall correctly, as a condition of using their service to show you competitor's prices and industry information, you also had to agree to use their suggested pricing.

[itake]

how is this different from all hotels using booking.com or airbnb and getting suggestion pricing from them?

[runsfromfire]

Are you asking how a middleman is different than a consultant firm controlling the industry via proxy?