Italian competition watchdog launches probe into Booking.com

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 22 - Italy's antitrust watchdog said Friday it has opened an investigation into the online hotel reservation service Booking.com for alleged abuse of a dominant market position.
    In a statement the authority said the probe is against Booking.com (Italy) srl, Booking.com B.V. and Booking.com International B.V.
    In particular, the service is alleged to give some hotels advantages in terms of visibility in the search results in exchange for higher commissions and the commitment to offer 'competitive' prices on Booking.com and to apply discounts on prices found to be higher than those advertised for the same establishment on other sites.
    According to the Authority, this strategy is likely to hinder effective competition at least within the Italian market to the detriment of other online hotel intermediation and booking services, with negative effects on accommodation facilities and, ultimately, on consumers in terms of higher prices and less choice in services.
    On Thursday antitrust authority officials reportedly carried out inspections at the offices of Booking.com (Italy) srl, with support from the special antitrust unit of the finance police.
    (ANSA).