FAS RUSSIA FINED BOOKING.COM B.V. BY 1.3 BILLION RUB
30-08-2021 | 16:22
The company abused its dominant position in the Russian market
The FAS Russia imposed a turnover fine on Booking.com B.V. (Netherlands) equal to 1.3 billion RUB for abuse of its dominant position in the market. The company operates the Booking.com aggregator.
In December 2020, the FAS Russia completed the consideration of the antimonopoly case against Booking.com B.V., initiated as a result of the consideration of the appeal of the All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA.
The agency determined that Booking.com B.V. abused its dominant position in the Russian market for the provision of services by aggregators of information about accommodation facilities (hotel aggregators). The company imposed on hotels and hostels the terms of an agreement on the need to provide and comply with the parity of prices and rooms, as well as the terms of interaction with closed user groups.
For hotels, this meant that they could not price their services in other sales channels lower than on the Booking.com aggregator.
The FAS Russia found that such actions restrict competition in the market and lead to infringement of the interests of hotels.
Until now, the company has not complied with the remedy.
For reference:
The liability for violation is provided for by the Part 2 of the Article 14.31 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.