Booking.com Faces Greek Competition Watchdog Probe Over Alleged Abuse of Market Dominance

The Hellenic Competition Commission will convene on December 28, 2026, to examine, based on a report submitted by the appointed Rapporteur, whether Booking.com B.V. (“Booking”) has infringed Article 2 of Greek Law 3959/2011 and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibit the abuse of a dominant market position. The Commission will also assess the commitments proposed by the company.

The case stems from a complaint concerning Booking’s business practices in the market for online intermediation services for hotel accommodation bookings through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). The investigation seeks to determine whether these practices constitute an abuse of a dominant market position under Greek and EU competition law.

As part of its investigation, the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) conducted inquiries involving domestic and international online travel agencies (OTAs), as well as hotel accommodation providers across Greece.

The investigation identified serious competition concerns regarding Booking.com’s alleged abuse of its dominant market position through a combination of practices that could restrict competing OTAs from entering or expanding their presence in the Greek market.

Practices Under Investigation

The investigation focuses on the combined effects of Booking.com’s Default Ranking Mechanism, Preferred Partner and Preferred Plus programmes, and its Booking Sponsored Benefit (BSB) discount scheme.

According to the HCC’s preliminary assessment, Booking.com’s ranking mechanism and preferred partner programmes may encourage accommodation providers to offer more competitive rates and favourable booking conditions on Booking.com than on rival OTA platforms.

In addition, through its BSB scheme, which complements the ranking mechanism and preferred partner programmes, Booking.com unilaterally discounts accommodation rates to ensure that hotel rooms are available on its platform at the most attractive prices and terms.

The HCC considers that these practices, when assessed collectively, may place competing OTAs at a competitive disadvantage, potentially restricting market entry and expansion. The practices may therefore constitute an infringement of Article 2 of Greek Law 3959/2011, as amended, and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), both of which prohibit the abuse of a dominant market position.

Following extensive preliminary discussions with HCC officials, Booking.com submitted a package of proposed commitments designed to address the identified competition concerns and bring the suspected infringement to an end. The HCC subsequently launched a public consultation on these commitments, which concluded in July 2026.

Proposed Commitments and Next Steps

According to the Rapporteur’s report, Booking.com’s proposed commitments are considered appropriate and sufficient to restore effective competition in the market, address the identified concerns on a lasting basis, and bring the suspected infringement to an end.

The HCC will now assess whether the proposed commitments satisfy the legal and procedural requirements for acceptance and adequately address the competition concerns outlined in the report.

The Rapporteur’s findings and recommendations are not binding on the HCC. The Commission will make its final determination after reviewing the evidence gathered during the proceedings and considering the submissions of all parties involved.