InterContinental Hotels Group has filed a federal lawsuit against Joystar, claiming one of Joystar's travel agents raided IHG's booking system and claimed more than $163,000 in improper commissions.
Joystar is a host agency based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. IHG's hotel brands are Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Hotel Indigo.
The lawsuit filed in Atlanta on Oct. 15 claims former IHG employee and Joystar agent Thomas Perkins went into the IHG system and peeled off a number of direct bookings, then claimed them as commissionable sales for himself and his wife.
The lawsuit claims IHG paid more than $163,000 under the scheme, more than $115,00 of which it says went to Perkins and his wife.
Neither Perkins nor Joystar could be immediately be reached for comment.
IHG said it sent Joystar a letter in July demanding it return the money,