Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com based in Amsterdam, is facing a substantial fine from Spain’s antitrust regulator due to anti-competitive practices. Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) found the company guilty of alleged infringements, including preventing local hotels from offering cheaper deals on their website than on booking.com.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The penalty could reach €486m, marking the largest fine ever given by the CNMC. However, Booking Holdings has disputed the allegations, claiming that allowing higher prices on their platform than on other sites could potentially harm consumers. The CEO, Glenn Fogel, has expressed disagreement with the decision and stated that the company will appeal the fine if it is upheld.
t/f Summary: What’s Next
If the fine is confirmed, Fogel anticipates that Booking.com will have to change its business practices in Spain, a process that may take several years due to the appeals process. This development comes shortly after the announcement that the EU is imposing a €500m fine on Apple for alleged anti-competitive behavior in its music streaming business. The EU is actively working to ensure fair competition in its single market and force dominant tech companies, including Booking.com, to comply with new rules outlined in the Digital Markets Act.