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Home > Finance > Italy regulator ends Booking.com probe as commitments ease competition concerns

Italy regulator ends Booking.com probe as commitments ease competition concerns

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on December 19, 2024

1 min read

Last updated: January 27, 2026

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Quick Summary

Italy's AGCM ends its probe into Booking.com after the company addressed competition concerns with commitments to ensure fair hotel pricing.

Italy Ends Booking.com Probe, Eases Competition Concerns

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's competition watchdog AGCM closed an investigation into Booking.com as it found commitments offered by the online travel platform sufficient to address the competition concerns it had raised, it said on Thursday.

AGCM opened in March a probe into Booking.com to establish whether the travel website was abusing its dominant market position with its hotel price policy.

The regulator said the way Booking.com's Preferred Partner Programme was handled "seemed likely to hinder effective competition in the market, at least nationwide, for online hotel brokerage and reservation services," resulting in higher prices and less choice for consumers.

Booking.com submitted a number of commitments to ensure that prices offered by hotels on other online channels would not be taken into account at any stage when managing and promoting those that are part of the programme.

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Giulia Segreti)

Key Takeaways

•Italy's AGCM closed its investigation into Booking.com.
•Booking.com addressed competition concerns with commitments.
•The probe focused on hotel price policy and market dominance.
•Preferred Partner Programme was a key concern in the investigation.
•Commitments ensure fair pricing across online channels.

Frequently Asked Questions about Italy regulator ends Booking.com probe as commitments ease competition concerns

1What is the main topic?

The main topic is Italy's AGCM ending its investigation into Booking.com after the company addressed competition concerns.

2Why was Booking.com investigated?

Booking.com was investigated for potentially abusing its dominant market position with its hotel price policy.

3What commitments did Booking.com make?

Booking.com committed to ensuring that hotel prices on other online channels would not affect its Preferred Partner Programme.

Italy Ends Booking.com Probe, Eases Competition Concerns

AGCM opened in March a probe into Booking.com to establish whether the travel website was abusing its dominant market position with its hotel price policy.

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Giulia Segreti)

Key Takeaways

•Italy's AGCM closed its investigation into Booking.com.

•Booking.com addressed competition concerns with commitments.

•The probe focused on hotel price policy and market dominance.

•Preferred Partner Programme was a key concern in the investigation.

•Commitments ensure fair pricing across online channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is the main topic?

The main topic is Italy's AGCM ending its investigation into Booking.com after the company addressed competition concerns.

2Why was Booking.com investigated?

Booking.com was investigated for potentially abusing its dominant market position with its hotel price policy.

3What commitments did Booking.com make?

Booking.com committed to ensuring that hotel prices on other online channels would not affect its Preferred Partner Programme.