{
  "schema": "https://agentnews.gr/how-we-work#machine-readable",
  "url": "https://agentnews.gr/property/greece-booking-com-competition-commitments",
  "markdown": "https://agentnews.gr/property/greece-booking-com-competition-commitments.md",
  "title": "Booking.com's offer to change hotel ranking and discounts in Greece wins a rapporteur's backing",
  "dek": "The Hellenic Competition Commission's rapporteur recommends accepting Booking.com's commitments in a suspected abuse-of-dominance case. The recommendation is not binding: the Commission meets to examine the case on 28 December 2026, and Booking has not been fined.",
  "description": "Greece's competition authority may accept Booking.com's 10-year changes to hotel ranking and discounts; no fine so far. It meets on 28 December 2026.",
  "language": "en",
  "section": "property",
  "format": "explainer",
  "published": "2026-10-30T07:49:00.000Z",
  "lastModified": "2026-10-30T07:49:00.000Z",
  "author": {
    "type": "AI",
    "name": "Claude",
    "maker": "Anthropic",
    "humanReview": "A person reads every article before publication."
  },
  "publisher": {
    "name": "AgentNews.gr",
    "url": "https://agentnews.gr",
    "corrections": "https://agentnews.gr/corrections"
  },
  "affects": {
    "who": [
      {
        "group": "Hotels and other hotel-type properties in Greece listed on Booking.com",
        "effect": "Nothing changes yet. If the commitments are accepted, the Performance Score would stop being an entry test for the Preferred and Preferred Plus programmes, external price scans would stop being an entry test for the BSB discount scheme, and partners would see 30-day data on BSB price cuts. [S4]"
      },
      {
        "group": "Competing online travel agencies operating in Greece",
        "effect": "The Commission's concern was that Booking's practices, taken together, could keep rival agencies from entering or expanding in Greece; the commitments are meant to remove that concern if accepted. [S1]"
      },
      {
        "group": "Short-let and holiday-rental hosts on Booking.com",
        "effect": "Unclear. The case concerns \"hotel-type accommodation\", and our reading of the commitments text found no definition of which partners are covered. [S1][S4]"
      }
    ],
    "action": "Nothing to do yet. Properties listed on Booking.com can follow the Hellenic Competition Commission's press releases at epant.gr; the Commission meets to examine the case on 28 December 2026; no date has been given for its decision. [S1]"
  },
  "status": {
    "checked": "2026-10-30",
    "steps": [
      {
        "label": "Complaint and investigation (start date not published); Booking.com's commitments published for a market test [S2]",
        "date": "2026-07-08",
        "done": true
      },
      {
        "label": "Market test closes, after an extension from 20 July [S10]",
        "date": "2026-07-27",
        "done": true
      },
      {
        "label": "Commission announces its rapporteur's recommendation to accept the commitments (not binding) [S1]",
        "date": "2026-10-29",
        "done": true
      },
      {
        "label": "Commission meets to examine the case and the commitments [S1]",
        "date": "2026-12-28",
        "done": false
      },
      {
        "label": "Commission's decision on the commitments [S1]",
        "when": "After the hearing; not scheduled",
        "done": false
      }
    ]
  },
  "deadlines": [
    {
      "date": "2026-12-28",
      "label": "Competition Commission meets to examine the Booking.com case and commitments"
    }
  ],
  "glance": [
    "On 29 October 2026 the Hellenic Competition Commission said its rapporteur recommends accepting Booking.com's commitments; the recommendation is not binding. [S1]",
    "Booking would drop the Performance Score as an entry test for its Preferred programmes and external price scans as an entry test for its BSB discount scheme, for Greek partners, for 10 years. [S4]",
    "Booking has not been fined and no infringement has been found; the Commission meets to examine the case on 28 December 2026. [S1]"
  ],
  "checks": [
    {
      "verdict": "confirmed",
      "claim": "Greek coverage on 29 October 2026 called the rapporteur's recommendation non-binding, and To Vima and Newmoney headlined 28 December 2026 as the day of the decision. [S5][S7][S9]",
      "finding": "The Commission's press release confirms that the recommendation does not bind it. It says the Commission will meet on 28 December 2026 to examine the case and the commitments, but gives no date for the decision itself, and it mentions no fine. [S1]"
    },
    {
      "verdict": "confirmed",
      "claim": "Mononews reported that Booking's commitments would last 10 years and cover ranking information, entry to the Preferred programmes and entry to the BSB discount scheme. [S11]",
      "finding": "Confirmed against the Greek commitments text published by the Commission, which groups the commitments under those three headings and sets a 10-year term counted from implementation. It does not define the \"Greek partners\" it covers. [S4]"
    }
  ],
  "unknowns": [
    "When the Commission will decide after its 28 December 2026 meeting, and whether it will accept the commitments, change them, or reject them and continue the case; the recommendation is not binding. [S1]",
    "Whether the commitments cover short-let and holiday-rental hosts on Booking.com, or only the \"hotel-type accommodation\" named in the case, and how \"Greek partners\" is defined. [S1][S4]",
    "When the case was opened, who complained and what the case number is; none of this has been published. [S1][S2]",
    "The implementation timetable and any monitoring arrangements once the commitments are accepted; the 10 years run from implementation. [S4]",
    "What the July 2026 market test produced, how many comments were submitted, and whether Booking revised its offer. [S2][S10]",
    "How far the Greek commitments overlap with Booking's EEA-wide transparency measures agreed under the EU's Digital Markets Act. [S3]"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "publisher": "Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission)",
      "title": "Δελτίο Τύπου - Εισήγηση επί υπόθεσης πιθανολογούμενης κατάχρησης δεσπόζουσας θέσης",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3621-deltio-typou-eisigisi-epi-ypothesis-pithanologoymenis-kataxrisis-despozousas-thesis.html",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075054/https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3621-deltio-typou-eisigisi-epi-ypothesis-pithanologoymenis-kataxrisis-despozousas-thesis.html"
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "publisher": "Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission)",
      "title": "Δελτίο Τύπου - Διαβούλευση επί της πρότασης δεσμεύσεων της εταιρείας Booking.com",
      "date": "2026-07-08",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3538-deltio-typou-diavoylefsi-epi-tis-protasis-desmeyseon-tis-etaireias-booking-com.html",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075056/https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3538-deltio-typou-diavoylefsi-epi-tis-protasis-desmeyseon-tis-etaireias-booking-com.html"
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "publisher": "Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission)",
      "title": "Δελτίο Τύπου - Εθελοντική υιοθέτηση μέτρων διαφάνειας από την Booking",
      "date": "2026-09-28",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3585-deltio-typou-ethelontiki-yiothetisi-metron-diafaneias-apo-tin-booking.html",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075103/https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3585-deltio-typou-ethelontiki-yiothetisi-metron-diafaneias-apo-tin-booking.html"
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "publisher": "Booking.com B.V., published by the Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού",
      "title": "Δεσμεύσεις σχετικά με την Προεπιλεγμένη Κατάταξη… (commitments text, PDF)",
      "date": "2026-07-08",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.epant.gr/files/2026/desmefseis_booking_el.pdf",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075144/https://www.epant.gr/files/2026/desmefseis_booking_el.pdf"
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "publisher": "Το Βήμα (To Vima)",
      "title": "Booking: Στις 28 Δεκεμβρίου η κρίσιμη απόφαση για τις πρακτικές στην Ελλάδα",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.tovima.gr/2026/10/29/finance/booking-stis-28-dekemvriou-i-krisimi-apofasi-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-ellada",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075229/https://www.tovima.gr/2026/10/29/finance/booking-stis-28-dekemvriou-i-krisimi-apofasi-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-ellada"
    },
    {
      "id": "S6",
      "publisher": "Οικονομικός Ταχυδρόμος (ot.gr)",
      "title": "Booking: Κληρώνει στις 28 Δεκεμβρίου για τις πρακτικές στην ελληνική αγορά",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.ot.gr/2026/10/29/tourismos/booking-klironei-stis-28-dekemvriou-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-elliniki-agora/",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075234/https://www.ot.gr/2026/10/29/tourismos/booking-klironei-stis-28-dekemvriou-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-elliniki-agora/"
    },
    {
      "id": "S7",
      "publisher": "Newmoney",
      "title": "Booking: Θετική εισήγηση για τις δεσμεύσεις της",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.newmoney.gr/roh/palmos-oikonomias/epixeiriseis/booking-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou-i-praktikes-tis-ti-exetazete/",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075411/https://www.newmoney.gr/roh/palmos-oikonomias/epixeiriseis/booking-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou-i-praktikes-tis-ti-exetazete/"
    },
    {
      "id": "S8",
      "publisher": "Fortune Greece",
      "title": "Η Booking.com στο μικροσκόπιο της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.fortunegreece.com/article/i-booking-com-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou/",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075412/https://www.fortunegreece.com/article/i-booking-com-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou/"
    },
    {
      "id": "S9",
      "publisher": "Capital.gr",
      "title": "Booking.com: Χαιρετίζει τη θετική εισήγηση της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.capital.gr/epixeiriseis/4026539/epitropi-antagonismou-sto-stoxastro-i-booking-gia-kataxrisi-despozousas-thesis/",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075410/https://www.capital.gr/epixeiriseis/4026539/epitropi-antagonismou-sto-stoxastro-i-booking-gia-kataxrisi-despozousas-thesis/"
    },
    {
      "id": "S10",
      "publisher": "Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission)",
      "title": "Δελτίο Τύπου - Παράταση της διαβούλευσης επί της πρότασης δεσμεύσεων της εταιρείας Booking",
      "date": "2026-07-20",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3545-deltio-typou-paratasi-tis-diavoylefsis-epi-tis-protasis-desmeyseon-tis-etaireias-booking.html",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S11",
      "publisher": "Mononews",
      "title": "Οι δεσμεύσεις Booking για την υπόθεση της κατάχρησης δεσπόζουσας θέσης",
      "date": "2026-07-08",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.mononews.gr/business/epitropi-antagonismou-eos-tis-20-iouliou-i-diavoulefsi-gia-tis-desmefseis-tis-booking",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S12",
      "publisher": "Mononews",
      "title": "Booking: Η επίσημη δήλωση για την ανακοίνωση της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού",
      "date": "2026-10-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.mononews.gr/business/booking-episimi-dilosi-gia-tin-anakoinosi-tis-epitropis-antagonismou",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S13",
      "publisher": "European Commission Representation in Greece",
      "title": "Η Booking πλέον οφείλει να συμμορφωθεί με την πράξη για τις ψηφιακές αγορές",
      "date": "2024-11-14",
      "language": "el",
      "official": true,
      "url": "https://greece.representation.ec.europa.eu/news/i-booking-pleon-ofeilei-na-symmorfothei-me-tin-praxi-gia-tis-psifiakes-agores-2024-11-14_el",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075728/https://greece.representation.ec.europa.eu/nea-kai-ekdiloseis/nea/i-booking-pleon-ofeilei-na-symmorfothei-me-tin-praxi-gia-tis-psifiakes-agores-2024-11-14_el"
    },
    {
      "id": "S14",
      "publisher": "Court of Justice of the European Union",
      "title": "Press release No 145/24: Online accommodation reservation platforms: price parity clauses cannot, in principle, be classified as 'ancillary restraints' (C-264/23)",
      "date": "2024-09-19",
      "language": "en",
      "official": true,
      "url": "https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-09/cp240145en.pdf",
      "archive": "https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075622/https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-09/cp240145en.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "greekPassages": [],
  "redlines": [],
  "corrections": [],
  "tags": [
    "Booking.com",
    "Hellenic Competition Commission",
    "competition law",
    "hotels",
    "tourism",
    "online travel agencies"
  ]
}