Booking .com strongly disagrees with the outcome of the CNMC investigation, the Spanish competition watchdog that has imposed a fine of more than 413 million euros on the booking platform. Booking says it plans to appeal this ‘unprecedented decision’. A spokesperson for Booking said this in a statement. “As we have said before, the EU’s Digital Market Act is the right forum to discuss and assess most of these issues, and provides an opportunity to agree on solutions that apply across Europe, rather than on a country-by-country basis.” The spokesperson continued: “Booking .com operates in a highly competitive sector and in an industry characterised by a high level of choice for both businesses and consumers. We offer accommodation partners programs like Preferred Plus and Genius that they can sign up for. The CNMC’s decision does not take this into account, contributing to a lack of consistency for consumers and accommodation partners in Spain, against a global backdrop.”
Market share The spokesperson nuances the remark, from the press release of the Spanish CNMC, about Booking’s market share.
In it, the CNMC says that Booking in Spain holds 70 to 90 percent of the market for online mediation for hotel reservations.
In Europe, the platform is said to have a market share of more than 60 percent.
The numbers need some clarification, says the spokesperson.
“That press release refers to footnote 3, which states that this definition of market share only applies to bookings made through third-party online travel platforms. This does not refer to the total market of hotel bookings in Spain or Europe.’ (Photo: Shutterstock).
