The Spanish antitrust authority CNMC has imposed a record fine of 413 million euros on Booking.com. The company is accused of abusing its dominant market position. Specifically, unfair business conditions are said to have been imposed on hotels in Spain and competition with other booking portals is said to have been restricted. In addition, Booking.com's bonus programs are said to be lacking in transparency. The Hungarian competition authority had already imposed a fine on the company last month.
Markus Gratzer, Secretary General of the Austrian Hotel Association (ÖHV), expressed understanding for the allegations and stressed that many hotels in Austria also suffer under the conditions of Booking.com. With a market share of around 75%, the platform is very dominant in Austria. Gratzer calls for more transparency and fair treatment of hotel businesses.
The EU Commission has designated Booking.com as a gatekeeper for its online intermediation service under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This is intended to enable comprehensive investigations and regulation.
The ÖHV has been relying on direct bookings for years and trains companies in direct sales. According to Gratzer, 67% of bookings at ÖHV hotels are now made via direct channels such as email or the hotel's own website. This is beneficial for both sides, as guests can find the best offer at the best price.
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