Booking.com Fined €413.24 Million for Abusing Dominant Market Position in Spain
Booking.com, the online travel agency, has been fined €413.24 million by Spain's competition authority for abusing its dominant market position. The investigation found that Booking.com imposed unfair terms on hotels, making it difficult for rival travel agencies to compete. The company held a market share of 70% to 90% in Spain, and the authority identified unfair practices such as price clauses and lack of transparency. Booking.com has the option to appeal the fine but also faces tighter regulation under the EU's Digital Markets Act. This highlights increased scrutiny for dominant online platforms.