Booking.com has been designated a gatekeeper under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), meaning the online travel agency will face regulation under the bloc’s market fairness and contestability framework — with the risk of fines of up to 10% (or 20% for repeat offenders) of annual revenue for noncompliance.
The travel platform has been given six months to comply with the bulk of the DMA’s requirements, including upfront rules for designated platforms like FRAND T&Cs for business users and a ban on self-preferencing. Some rules are immediately applicable, though — the requirement to inform the EU of planned acquisitions, for example.
The Commission said it expects the designation to boost choice for holidaymakers. Commenting in a statement, EVP and competition chief Margrethe Vestager said, “Holidaymakers will start benefiting from more choice and hotels will have more business opportunities.”
Booking.com is the seventh gatekeeper to become subject to the regime, joining Alphabet,…
