Expedia and Booking Agree to Changes on Search After UK Investigation
Photo Credit: A Booking.com image. The company along with several other online travel agencies was investigated by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. Booking.com
Skift Take
Understandably, Expedia and Booking are both trying to spin this in their favor as much as possible but it seems like a big win for the UK's competition regulator. We'll have to keep an eye on how much it really changes things and whether other countries follow up.
Online travel brands belonging to Expedia Group and Booking Holdings have agreed to make changes to their hotel search results following an investigation by the UK’s competition regulator.
The Competition and Markets Authority’s work centered around concerns over issues such as pressure selling, misleading discounts claims, the impact of commission on search results, and hidden charges.
Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, Ebookers and Trivago were all part of the investigation. Expedia Group owns Expedia, Hotels.com and Trivago. Booking Holdings owns Booking.com and Agoda.
The CMA started enforcement action last year and although it has legal powers the companies involved have “voluntarily agreed” to make the changes.
Crucially for Expedia and Booking, the
