Italy's antitrust probes Booking.com over partner programmes (updated)

Booking Holdings

22/04/2026 13:36

Adds details in paragraph 2 and Booking.com comment

ROME, April 22 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday it has opened an investigation into Booking.com BKNG.O over alleged unfair commercial practices linked to how hotels are ranked and presented on its platform.

Booking.com said that it was cooperating with the Italian watchdog, which said that the company presents hotels and other lodgings enrolled in its "Preferred Partner" and "Preferred Partner Plus" programmes as being selected on the basis of service quality and value for money.

The Italian authority said in a statement that inclusion in the programmes, which receive better positioning in search results and greater visual prominence, however, appeared to be based on criteria that favour accommodation providers offering higher commissions to Booking.com.

Booking.com said in a statement that its partner programmes were optional for accommodation providers and complied with consumer protection regulations, "while ensuring a balance between the interests of our partners and allowing customers to continue benefiting from a wide range of choice".

The Italian regulator said it had carried out inspections on Tuesday at the premises of Booking.com's Italian unit, with the assistance of Italy's finance police, as part of the probe, which is targeting Booking.com B.V. and its units Booking.com International B.V. and Booking.com (Italy) S.r.l.

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti; Editing by Gavin Jones and Alexander Smith)

((Giulia.Segreti@tr.com; +39.06.80307714;))