Italian anti-trust launches probe in Booking, Expedia

Italy's anti-trust authority said Monday that it has launched a probe into travel websites Booking and Expedia. The authority is investigating allegations the sites may hinder competition in the reservations business and consumers' ability to find the best available travel offers.
    Investigators are looking into suggestions the websites limit price competition through agreements with hotels that condition pricing through other sales channels, including the hotels' own websites.
    The decision to open the probe was taken at a May 7 meeting after concerns were raised by the hotel association Federalberghi, the anti-trust-market-protection unit of the Italian finance police, and the Italian Association for Computers and Automated Calculation (AICA).