Spain’s National Commission for Market and Competition (CNMC) has fined online accommodation booking service Booking.com a record €413 million for “abuse of dominance” over the past five years.
This is stated in a press release.
The Spanish antitrust authority found that Booking.com’s market share in Spain over the past five years has ranged from 70% to 90%. This has had a negative impact on hotels and other online travel agencies that compete with Booking.com.
The fact that this is the largest fine ever imposed by the CNMC.
The commission also found that since at least the beginning of 2019, the company has twice abused its position by imposing several unfair commercial conditions on hotels and limiting competition from other travel agencies that offered identical services.
For example, the company prohibited hotels from offering rooms on their own websites at a lower price than on Booking.com. At the same time, Booking.com could unilaterally reduce the prices offered by hotels through the Booking website or app.
Booking.com is an intermediary between property owners and customers. The service charges the owner a commission when customers book their hotel room or apartment through Booking.com.
