The Competition Commission will meet on 28 December 2026 to consider, following a report by the competent Rapporteur, whether Booking.com B.V. (“Booking”) has infringed Article 2 of Law 3959/2011 and Article 102 of the TFEU on the abuse of a dominant position, as well as the commitments proposed by the company.
The case concerns an investigation, following a complaint, into Booking’s practices in the market for online intermediation services for bookings at hotel accommodation through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), to determine whether the relevant provisions on the abuse of a dominant position have been infringed.
As part of the case, investigative measures were carried out at domestic and international OTA businesses and at hotels across Greece. The investigation raised serious concerns that Booking is exploiting its dominant position in the relevant market by applying a series of practices that, taken together, could prevent competing OTA businesses from entering or expanding in Greece.
Practices and mechanisms
These practices comprise the combination of the default ranking mechanism (“Default Ranking Mechanism”), the “Recommended Accommodation Programme” and the “Recommended Plus Programme” (together, the “Recommended Accommodation Programmes”), and the “Booking Sponsored Benefit” discount programme (“BSB”). It is provisionally considered that, through the default ranking mechanism and the Recommended Accommodation Programmes, hotel accommodation providers have an incentive to offer more favourable prices and terms through Booking’s platform than through third-party OTA platforms.
In addition, through BSB, which complements the default ranking system and the Recommended Accommodation Programmes, Booking unilaterally reduces the prices of hotel accommodation to ensure that rooms at such properties are available through its platform on the most favourable terms. Taken together, these practices were considered to operate to the detriment of third-party OTA businesses and to fall within the scope of Article 2 of Law 3959/2011, as amended, and Article 102 of the TFEU.
In this context, and following extensive preparatory meetings with relevant Competition Commission officials, Booking proposed commitments aimed at bringing the suspected infringement to an end. The Commission put the proposed commitments out for consultation, which concluded in July 2026.
According to the Rapporteur’s report, the commitments proposed by Booking are considered capable and appropriate to restore effective competition in the market and bring the suspected infringement to an end, while ensuring that competition concerns are addressed permanently. The Commission will examine whether Booking’s proposed commitments comply with the terms, conditions and procedure for accepting commitments in respect of the competition concerns identified in the report.
The Rapporteur’s report is not binding on the Competition Commission, which will decide after taking into account the evidence in the proceedings and the views of the parties.