Booking.com, the popular online travel agency, has been hit with a record fine of over €400 million by Spanish antitrust authorities. The Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) accused Booking.com of abusing its dominant market position through various anti-competitive practices.
The CNMC alleges that Booking.com imposed unfair conditions on hotels, preventing them from offering lower prices on their own websites than those listed on Booking.com. Additionally, the company is accused of offering discounts to customers without consulting the hotels beforehand and requiring Spanish hotels to use Dutch courts for dispute resolution.
The antitrust watchdog also criticised Booking.com's bonus program for hotels that generate significant business through the platform, arguing that it creates barriers for competitors to establish contracts with these accommodations.
Booking.com has rejected the allegations and announced its intention to appeal the decision. The company maintains that its practices are fair and do not violate competition laws.
This fine represents the highest ever imposed by the CNMC, underscoring the seriousness of the accusations against Booking.com. The outcome of the appeal process will have significant implications for the online travel industry and could potentially lead to changes in Booking.com's business practices in Spain.
