Commission

EU Commission enforces new rules on Booking.com

Simona Mazzeo
Simona Mazzeo
EU Commission enforces new rules on Booking.com
Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission said hotel reservation website Booking.com must now concede with stringent EU obligations, following its designation as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act.

European Commission stated that Booking Holdings Inc. (BHI), specified as a gatekeeper on 13 May 2024, must ensure that its online intermediation service, Booking.com, complies with all applicable obligations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

According to the EU Commission, this implies hotels, car rental companies, and other providers of travel services that rely on Booking.com to get their customers can start to enjoy new opportunities. 

What are the new obligations for Booking.com under the DMA?

So-called ‘parity’ clauses are restricted by the DMA. Therefore, hotels, car rentals and other service providers using Booking.com are now unrestricted to offer different (including better) costs and conditions on their own website or other mediums than on Booking.com.

Moreover, Booking must not present other measures with the same product as ‘parity’ clauses. For example, Booking is not permitted to increase commission rates or de-list offers of business users if they supply different prices on another website than on Booking.com. This suggests that other platforms and travel service providers can contest under fairer conditions, leading to innovation and lower costs.

How will the new rules affect hotels and travel providers?

Also, hotels and other travel services will contain real-time and constant access to data that they and their customers develop through the use of Booking.com, presenting these businesses with new insights. Business users can now prefer to transfer the data they rendered on Booking.com to alternative venues. This will permit hotels and other suitable travel service providers to develop more innovative arrangements and tailored offers, placing them more competitively on the market.

Furthermore, the Commission states that now Booking is demanded to demonstrate its full and adequate compliance with the DMA by outlining the steps undertaken in a compliance report. The Commission declared that it will now carefully examine the compliance report and assess whether the executed measures are effective in achieving the purposes of the relevant obligations under the DMA. 

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BySimona Mazzeo
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Simona Mazzeo is a journalist and legal professional with a strong focus on European affairs, justice, and social advocacy. A law graduate and practicing lawyer based in Agropoli, she has built a versatile career that bridges journalism, law, and community service. Simona serves as a delegated councilor for the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Bar Association of Vallo della Lucania, where she promotes fairness and equal representation within the legal system. She is also qualified for registration in the list of Special Curators of minors in civil and criminal matters at the Court of Vallo della Lucania, ensuring that the rights of vulnerable children are safeguarded throughout legal proceedings. In addition to her legal practice, Simona is a founding member of the Free Lawyer Movement, a non-profit organization providing legal aid to those unable to afford representation. As a journalist, she contributes insightful analyses and reports on European institutions, Italian affairs, and pressing social issues, combining her legal expertise with a passion for truth and justice. Through her work in both law and media, Simona Mazzeo continues to advocate for equality, transparency, and access to justice for all.
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