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Antitrust · Booking.Com · Italy · Regulation
Italy's AGCM competition authority initiated an investigation into Booking.com, Booking.com International, and Booking.com (Italia) for allegedly engaging in unfair commercial practices by granting superior visibility to accommodation providers paying higher commissions, potentially misleading consumers into booking more expensive options.
AGCM officials, alongside Italy's Guardia di Finanza financial crimes police, conducted inspections at Booking.com Italy's premises. The probe specifically targets Booking.com's "Preferred Partner Programme," where the authority states selection criteria appear driven by commission rates rather than the actual quality or value for money offered by accommodation providers.
This practice, according to the AGCM, misleads consumers into believing highlighted options offer better overall value, potentially leading them to book costlier accommodations. Booking.com, which operates its platform in 45 languages, has facilitated 6.8 billion guest arrivals since 2010 and also provides flights and car rental services.
The investigation is ongoing, focusing on the transparency and fairness of the platform's ranking algorithms.
