Spain’s National Court has temporarily suspended the €413.2 million fine imposed on Booking.com by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) while it reviews the company’s appeal.
The ruling grants the American travel platform a reprieve as it challenges allegations of abusing its dominant market position in the online travel agency (OTA) sector.
The CNMC initially announced the penalty on July 30, 2024, after concluding that Booking.com engaged in anti-competitive practices that restricted market entry for other online travel agencies. The fine was issued following complaints from the Spanish Association of Hotel Directors and the Madrid Hotel Business Association, which accused the platform of unfairly prioritizing hotels with higher bookings and imposing restrictive pricing policies on Spanish accommodation providers.
Booking.com filed an appeal against the decision on October 30, 2024, arguing that the CNMC’s…
Boutique Travel VC raises investment cap from $1.5M to $10M to lead rounds and support portfolio companies through growth Travel...
Read moreDetails
