Italy launches investigation into Booking over hotel ratings
Kyiv • UNN
The antitrust regulator is investigating Booking.com for giving preference to hotels that pay higher commissions. Financial police have already searched the Italian office.
Italy's antitrust regulator announced on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into Booking.com and two of its subsidiaries for alleged unfair commercial practices related to hotel rankings on its platform, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
Details
The selection of accommodations in the online travel platform's "Preferred Partners" program, which receive better positioning in search results and greater visual presence, is based on criteria that favor those offering Booking.com higher commissions, the agency said in a statement.
The investigation concerns Booking.com B.V., Booking.com International B.V., and Booking.com (Italy) S.r.l.
On Tuesday, the supervisory body conducted inspections at the premises of Booking.com's Italian subsidiary with the assistance of Italy's financial police.
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