Hotel online booking investigation
The CMA investigated suspected breaches of competition law relating to discounting restrictions in arrangements between hotels and online travel agents.
Case reference: CE/9320-10
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 16 September 2015 | Case closed on the grounds of administrative priorities |
| October 2014 to August 2015 | CMA consideration of next steps in the investigation in light of the CAT judgment and market developments, including developments in the investigations of other European competition authorities |
| 26 September 2014 | CAT judgment on appeal quashes final decision on commitments and remits case back to CMA |
| 31 January 2014 | Final decision on commitments and case closed |
| 20 December 2013 to 17 January 2014 | Consultation period on revised commitments |
| 20 December 2013 | Consultation opened on revised commitments proposed by Booking.com, Expedia and IHG and European Commission officially informed of the OFT’s intention to accept revised commitments |
| 9 August to 13 September 2013 | Consultation period |
| 9 August 2013 | Consultation opened on commitments proposed by Booking.com, Expedia and IHG |
| 31 July 2012 | Statement of objections issued |
| October 2010 to July 2012 | OFT analysis and review of parties’ responses to information requests |
| October 2010 to July 2012 | Issue of further information requests |
| September 2010 to June 2012 | Information gathering, including issue of formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses |
| 10 September 2010 | Investigation opened |
Case information
16 September 2015: The CMA reconsidered the matter in the light of the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s Skyscanner judgment. Following a fresh look at the case, the CMA decided to close the investigation into discounting restrictions on administrative priority grounds.
- (16.9.15)
- Press release: CMA closes hotel online booking investigation (16.9.15)
See the OFT case page for further details and related documents.
This case closure decision doesn’t affect the CMA’s ongoing monitoring of developments in the hotel online booking sector. See separate project page for further details.
Contacts
Team leader
Amanda Partridge (020 3738 6309, amanda.partridge@cma.gsi.gov.uk)
Project directors
Gaucho Rasmussen (020 3738 6497, gaucho.rasmussen@cma.gsi.gov.uk) James MacBeth (020 3738 6958, james.macbeth@cma.gsi.gov.uk)
Senior responsible officer
Ann Pope (020 3738 6786, ann.pope@cma.gsi.gov.uk)