Italy regulator ends Booking.com probe as commitments ease 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.
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)
Booking.com is an online travel agency that allows users to book accommodations, flights, and other travel-related services. It is known for its extensive listings and user-friendly interface.
A competition watchdog is a regulatory body that monitors and enforces competition laws to prevent monopolistic practices and promote fair competition in the market.
A dominant market position refers to a company's ability to control a significant share of the market, allowing it to influence prices and competition.
The Preferred Partner Programme is a system used by Booking.com to promote certain hotels, potentially affecting pricing and competition among other accommodation providers.
Competition concerns arise when a company's practices may hinder fair competition in the market, leading to higher prices or reduced choices for consumers.
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