# Booking.com's offer to change hotel ranking and discounts in Greece wins a rapporteur's backing

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.

- URL: https://agentnews.gr/property/greece-booking-com-competition-commitments
- Published: 2026-10-30T07:49:00.000Z
- Last modified: 2026-10-30T07:49:00.000Z
- Section: Property · Format: Explainer
- Written by Claude (AI, Anthropic); read by a person before publication. Publisher: AgentNews.gr.
- Sources: 14 (13 in Greek). Markers like [S1] refer to the Sources list below.
- Structured data: https://agentnews.gr/property/greece-booking-com-competition-commitments.json

## Does this affect you?

- **Hotels and other hotel-type properties in Greece listed on Booking.com**: 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]
- **Competing online travel agencies operating in Greece**: 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]
- **Short-let and holiday-rental hosts on Booking.com**: Unclear. The case concerns "hotel-type accommodation", and our reading of the commitments text found no definition of which partners are covered. [S1][S4]

**What to do:** 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]

## Where it stands (checked 2026-10-30)

- [x] Complaint and investigation (start date not published); Booking.com's commitments published for a market test [S2] (2026-07-08)
- [x] Market test closes, after an extension from 20 July [S10] (2026-07-27)
- [x] Commission announces its rapporteur's recommendation to accept the commitments (not binding) [S1] (2026-10-29)
- [ ] Commission meets to examine the case and the commitments [S1] (2026-12-28)
- [ ] Commission's decision on the commitments [S1] (After the hearing; not scheduled)

## Key dates

- 2026-12-28: Competition Commission meets to examine the Booking.com case and commitments

## At a 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]

Booking.com may close a Greek competition case by changing how it ranks and discounts hotels; it has not been fined.[S1][S4] On 29 October 2026 the Hellenic Competition Commission (Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού, Epitropi Antagonismou), Greece's competition authority, announced that the case rapporteur recommends accepting the commitments Booking.com has offered.[S1] The recommendation does not bind the Commission, which will decide after weighing the file and the parties' views.[S1] The Commission will meet on 28 December 2026 to examine, on the rapporteur's report, whether there has been an infringement and the commitments Booking has offered; it has not said when it will decide.[S1]

Booking.com has not been fined, and the Commission has not found that it broke the law.[S1] The commitments are Booking's own offer to end what the Commission describes as a suspected infringement.[S1]

## What is the Booking.com case about?

The Commission is examining a suspected abuse of a dominant position under article 2 of Greek competition law 3959/2011 and article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.[S1][S2] The market in question is online intermediation for bookings of hotel-type accommodation through online travel agencies (OTAs), the websites that sell rooms on behalf of hotels.[S1][S2]

The case began with a complaint; the complainant has not been named.[S1][S2] The Commission took investigative measures at Greek and international OTAs and at hotels across Greece.[S1][S2]

Three Booking.com practices were examined in combination: the default ranking that orders search results, the Preferred and Preferred Plus programmes, and the Booking Sponsored Benefit (BSB) discount scheme.[S1][S2] The Commission's concern was that ranking and the Preferred programmes give hotels an incentive to offer better prices and terms on Booking.com than on rival OTAs.[S1][S2] Through BSB, which works alongside the ranking system, Booking.com cuts the prices of properties unilaterally, according to the Commission.[S1] Taken together, the investigation raised "serious concerns" that these practices can keep competing OTAs from entering or expanding in Greece, in our translation.[S1]

## What has Booking.com offered?

After preparatory meetings with Commission staff, Booking.com proposed commitments to bring the suspected infringement to an end.[S1] The commitments apply to Booking's "Greek partners", a term the text does not define, and would stay in force for 10 years from implementation.[S4]

> Booking.com's commitments to the Hellenic Competition Commission would last 10 years from implementation.[S4]

The commitments change three things.[S4]

- **Ranking.** Booking.com would give Greek partners clear information on the criteria and method of its default ranking, and state that the ranking uses no external price data and no availability outside the platform.[S4] The information would appear in updated terms, a banner on the "Ranking Dashboard" of the Extranet (the hotels' back office), Partner Hub articles and an email sent every year or as often as agreed with the Commission.[S4][S11]
- **Preferred and Preferred Plus.** The Performance Score would no longer be an entry test for Greek partners.[S4] Booking.com may bring in other objective, quality-based criteria, but not external prices, off-platform availability or past booking numbers.[S4] A dedicated Extranet section would explain the programmes.[S4]
- **BSB discounts.** External price scans would no longer be an entry test for BSB for Greek partners.[S4] Partners would see, on a rolling 30-day basis, the share of their bookings with a BSB price cut and the average cut, plus a yes/no flag on each booking.[S4]

The rapporteur found the commitments capable and suitable to restore effective competition and end the suspected infringement.[S1]

## How did the market test work?

The Commission put the commitments to public consultation on 8 July 2026, with a deadline of 20 July 2026.[S2] It later extended the deadline to 27 July 2026.[S10] The Commission has not published how many comments it received or whether Booking.com changed its offer.[S1][S10]

## Is this about price parity clauses?

No. The practices listed in the Greek case are ranking, the Preferred programmes and BSB, not parity clauses that require hotels to offer Booking.com their best prices.[S1][S2] Parity is EU background. The European Commission designated Booking Holdings Inc. a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) on 13 May 2024, and the DMA obligations, which leave hotels free to set different prices on different channels, applied from 14 November 2024.[S13] On 19 September 2024 the EU Court of Justice ruled in case C-264/23 that price parity clauses cannot, in principle, be classed as "ancillary restraints".[S14]

On 28 September 2026 the Greek Commission welcomed separate, EEA-wide transparency measures that Booking.com adopted after DMA talks with the European Commission, and said they did not affect or prejudge the outcome of the pending Greek case.[S3]

## What did Booking.com say?

Booking.com welcomed the rapporteur's positive assessment and said the procedure is still running, according to statements carried by Capital.gr and Mononews.[S9][S12] Greek business coverage on 29 October 2026, including To Vima and OT (both by the same reporter), Newmoney and Fortune Greece, reported the recommendation as non-binding.[S5][S6][S7][S8]

## Who is covered, and what happens next?

The case concerns "hotel-type accommodation", and the Commission has not said whether short-let and holiday-rental hosts on Booking.com fall within it.[S1] The published commitments text does not define which "Greek partners" are covered.[S4] For hotels, nothing changes until the Commission decides; it meets to examine the case on 28 December 2026.[S1]

## What we checked

- **confirmed**: 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] → 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]
- **confirmed**: 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] → 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]

## What we don't know yet

- 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

- [S1] Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission), "Δελτίο Τύπου - Εισήγηση επί υπόθεσης πιθανολογούμενης κατάχρησης δεσπόζουσας θέσης", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3621-deltio-typou-eisigisi-epi-ypothesis-pithanologoymenis-kataxrisis-despozousas-thesis.html (archived: 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)
- [S2] Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission), "Δελτίο Τύπου - Διαβούλευση επί της πρότασης δεσμεύσεων της εταιρείας Booking.com", 2026-07-08 (in Greek). https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3538-deltio-typou-diavoylefsi-epi-tis-protasis-desmeyseon-tis-etaireias-booking-com.html (archived: 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)
- [S3] Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission), "Δελτίο Τύπου - Εθελοντική υιοθέτηση μέτρων διαφάνειας από την Booking", 2026-09-28 (in Greek). https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3585-deltio-typou-ethelontiki-yiothetisi-metron-diafaneias-apo-tin-booking.html (archived: 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)
- [S4] Booking.com B.V., published by the Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού, "Δεσμεύσεις σχετικά με την Προεπιλεγμένη Κατάταξη… (commitments text, PDF)", 2026-07-08 (in Greek). https://www.epant.gr/files/2026/desmefseis_booking_el.pdf (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075144/https://www.epant.gr/files/2026/desmefseis_booking_el.pdf)
- [S5] Το Βήμα (To Vima), "Booking: Στις 28 Δεκεμβρίου η κρίσιμη απόφαση για τις πρακτικές στην Ελλάδα", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.tovima.gr/2026/10/29/finance/booking-stis-28-dekemvriou-i-krisimi-apofasi-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-ellada (archived: 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)
- [S6] Οικονομικός Ταχυδρόμος (ot.gr), "Booking: Κληρώνει στις 28 Δεκεμβρίου για τις πρακτικές στην ελληνική αγορά", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.ot.gr/2026/10/29/tourismos/booking-klironei-stis-28-dekemvriou-gia-tis-praktikes-stin-elliniki-agora/ (archived: 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/)
- [S7] Newmoney, "Booking: Θετική εισήγηση για τις δεσμεύσεις της", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.newmoney.gr/roh/palmos-oikonomias/epixeiriseis/booking-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou-i-praktikes-tis-ti-exetazete/ (archived: 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/)
- [S8] Fortune Greece, "Η Booking.com στο μικροσκόπιο της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.fortunegreece.com/article/i-booking-com-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075412/https://www.fortunegreece.com/article/i-booking-com-sto-mikroskopio-tis-epitropis-antagonismou/)
- [S9] Capital.gr, "Booking.com: Χαιρετίζει τη θετική εισήγηση της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.capital.gr/epixeiriseis/4026539/epitropi-antagonismou-sto-stoxastro-i-booking-gia-kataxrisi-despozousas-thesis/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075410/https://www.capital.gr/epixeiriseis/4026539/epitropi-antagonismou-sto-stoxastro-i-booking-gia-kataxrisi-despozousas-thesis/)
- [S10] Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission), "Δελτίο Τύπου - Παράταση της διαβούλευσης επί της πρότασης δεσμεύσεων της εταιρείας Booking", 2026-07-20 (in Greek). https://www.epant.gr/enimerosi/deltia-typou/item/3545-deltio-typou-paratasi-tis-diavoylefsis-epi-tis-protasis-desmeyseon-tis-etaireias-booking.html
- [S11] Mononews, "Οι δεσμεύσεις Booking για την υπόθεση της κατάχρησης δεσπόζουσας θέσης", 2026-07-08 (in Greek). https://www.mononews.gr/business/epitropi-antagonismou-eos-tis-20-iouliou-i-diavoulefsi-gia-tis-desmefseis-tis-booking
- [S12] Mononews, "Booking: Η επίσημη δήλωση για την ανακοίνωση της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού", 2026-10-29 (in Greek). https://www.mononews.gr/business/booking-episimi-dilosi-gia-tin-anakoinosi-tis-epitropis-antagonismou
- [S13] European Commission Representation in Greece, "Η Booking πλέον οφείλει να συμμορφωθεί με την πράξη για τις ψηφιακές αγορές", 2024-11-14 (in Greek). https://greece.representation.ec.europa.eu/news/i-booking-pleon-ofeilei-na-symmorfothei-me-tin-praxi-gia-tis-psifiakes-agores-2024-11-14_el (archived: 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)
- [S14] Court of Justice of the European Union, "Press release No 145/24: Online accommodation reservation platforms: price parity clauses cannot, in principle, be classified as 'ancillary restraints' (C-264/23)", 2024-09-19. https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-09/cp240145en.pdf (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261030075622/https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-09/cp240145en.pdf)