Finance
Italy's Antitrust Agency Probes Booking.com for Alleged Unfair Commercial Practices
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 22, 2026
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Italy’s antitrust regulator, the AGCM, has launched a formal investigation into Booking.com and its units—Booking.com B.V., Booking.com International B.V., and Booking.com (Italy) S.r.l.—over the “Preferred Partners” programme, which potentially grants hotels greater visibility in exchange for highe
Italy’s Antitrust Agency Investigates Booking.com Over Unfair Ranking Practices
Investigation Details and Allegations
Background of the Investigation
ROME, April 22 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into Booking.com and two of its units for alleged unfair commercial practices linked to how hotels are ranked on its platform.
Preferred Partners Programme and Ranking Criteria
Selection Process for Preferred Partners
The selection of the accommodation facilities in the online travel platform's "Preferred Partners" programme - which receive better positioning in search results and greater visual presence - is based on criteria that favour those who offer higher commissions to Booking.com, the authority said in a statement.
Companies Under Investigation
The investigation targets Booking.com B.V., Booking.com International B.V. and Booking.com (Italy) S.r.l.
Recent Developments
Inspections by Authorities
On Tuesday, the watchdog carried out inspections at the premises of the Italian unit of Booking.com, assisted by Italy's finance police.
Booking.com's Response
Booking.com was not immediately available for comment.
Reporting and Editing
(Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gavin Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •The AGCM suspects Booking.com’s Preferred Partner and Preferred Plus programmes, along with the Booking Sponsored Benefit mechanism, may constitute an abuse of dominant position by limiting hotels’ pricing autonomy and disadvantaging competing OTAs (en.agcm.it).
- •Inspections were carried out at Booking.com’s Italian offices with assistance from Italy’s Guardia di Finanza as part of the procedural investigation launched on March 22, 2024 (en.agcm.it).
- •The AGCM has previously closed a similar probe in December 2024 after Booking.com offered commitments to enhance transparency and ensure hotel pricing on other platforms isn’t considered in their promotional programmes (en.agcm.it)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy's antitrust agency probes Booking.com for alleged unfair commercial practices
1Why is Italy's antitrust agency investigating Booking.com?
The agency suspects Booking.com of unfair commercial practices related to how hotels are ranked on its platform.
2What is the Preferred Partners programme on Booking.com?
The Preferred Partners programme gives better search positioning to hotels that offer higher commissions to Booking.com.
3Which Booking.com units are under investigation?
The investigation targets Booking.com B.V., Booking.com International B.V., and Booking.com (Italy) S.r.l.
4Were any actions taken at Booking.com offices in Italy?
Italy's finance police assisted the watchdog in carrying out inspections at Booking.com's Italian premises.
5Has Booking.com responded to the investigation?
Booking.com was not immediately available for comment regarding the investigation.
