Following the follow-up investigation of a case that started in 2018 and ended with a decision in 2020, the Economic Competition Office (GVH) imposed another fine of several hundred million on the world’s largest online accommodation broker, Booking.com.
The original fine of HUF 2.5 billion and the current fine of almost HUF 400 million raises the question of whether similar, record-breaking fines really have any deterrent effect in the case of such a global multinational.
The Hungarian competition authority stated in its statement today that in the recently concluded follow-up investigation procedure, Booking did not fully fulfill its obligations. Although the company reduced the use of urgent messages, it used messages that did not comply with the ban and were suitable for psychological pressure until February 26, 2024.
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In addition, the company did not abandon its slogan of free cancellation until April 26, 2024, but instead introduced cheaper, non-cancellable offers for Hungarian consumers, putting them at a disadvantage. in the final stage, the online accommodation agent was finally modified.
In the end, the GVH fined the Dutch operator of Booking.com a total of HUF 382.5 million due to the discovered violations, which waived its right to legal remedies, but somewhat paradoxically, it did not acknowledge the violations, but in the end it ended all illegal practices.
Source: www.hwsw.hu
