When you travel, you aim to manage expenses as efficiently as possible, from flights and airport transfers to accommodation, which often constitutes the largest portion of your vacation budget.
If you prefer not to book directly through hotel websites, you have various search engines to choose from, one of the most popular being Booking.com. However, this well-known platform is currently facing significant legal issues.
According to Reuters, Spain’s antitrust regulator announced on Tuesday that it has fined Booking.com €413.2 million for abusing its dominant market position. The authorities claim that since 2019, the company has been imposing unfair pricing conditions on hotels in Spain.
This is not the first time Booking.com has encountered such problems. As reported by the Financial Times, regulators began investigating the company for unfair competition practices back in February of this year. This scrutiny is part of a broader effort by European authorities to curb the growing dominance of tech giants.
Spain’s antitrust watchdog initially proposed a fine of €486 million. Regulators accused the company of anti-competitive behavior, such as preventing local hotel groups from offering lower prices on their own websites compared to those listed on Booking.com.
Booking.com has denied these allegations, arguing that allowing lower prices on their platform could harm consumers. Sources close to the company have stated, “We are disappointed with the draft decision [from Spanish regulators],” and added that they intend to appeal the fine if it becomes final.
The news of this proposed fine comes amid a global regulatory push to oversee similar agreements and control the increasing power of the sector, particularly when it disadvantages local businesses. Last year, the EU blocked Booking.com’s acquisition of Swedish travel company Etraveli, which operates brands like Gotogate and Mytrip. This decision was contrary to a prior approval by the UK, illustrating the complex regulatory landscape Booking.com faces.
