Rome, December 19, 2024
The Italian Competition Authority has concluded its investigation into Booking.com over alleged abuse of dominance, accepting the company’s proposed commitments.
The inquiry focused on Booking’s programs—Preferred Partner, Preferred Plus, and Booking Sponsored Benefit—which required accommodations to maintain competitive pricing on Booking.com, potentially restricting their ability to offer different rates on other platforms.
Under the commitments, Booking will no longer consider prices on alternative sales channels when determining access to or benefits from these programs. Additionally, the company has enhanced transparency, pledging clearer communication and periodic data updates for participating properties.
The Authority deemed the changes sufficient to safeguard hotels’ pricing autonomy and promote fair competition among online travel agencies. The decision is expected to empower Italian accommodations and foster a more competitive online booking landscape.
Source: https://www.agcm.it/media/comunicati-stampa/2024/12/A558-A558B
