Greece’s Hoteliers Welcome Booking.com ‘Gatekeeper’ Status

Photo source: Booking.com

Greek hoteliers welcomed the European Commission’s decision this week to name Booking.com parent company Booking Holdings as gatekeeper under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) as part of ongoing efforts to ensure fair market practices and transparency.

In a statement, the  Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) said the decision was “historic” and would help safeguard businesses and create a healthy market.

As a designated gatekeeper, Booking.com will have to comply with DMA obligations in a six-month period. Among others the platform will have to ensure user choice and fair business access.

Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos.

“It is a historic decision that vindicates Europe’s hotel industry and changes the rules of the game which until now allowed – according to many objections by our members – unfair and abusive practices at the expense of hotels by this platform,” said HCH President Alexandros Vassilikos.

According to complaints filed by hotels in Europe, the booking platform took advantage of its dominant market position promoting unfair business practices which had a considerable negative impact on hotel operations. Among others, Booking.com hindered hotels from offering better prices through their own distribution channels and refused to share sufficient data with partner hotels.

“Hospitality has a lot to offer both in Greece and in Europe. However, for the sector to be able to do so, a necessary condition is healthy competition. We are fully committed to this principle both as HCH and HOTREC so that every hotelier who invests and assumes all the costs is also the real owner of his product in terms of absolute transparency.”

Alexandros Vassilikos is also the president of HOTREC, the umbrella Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes and similar establishments in Europe.