Hungary: Issued Hungarian Economic Competition Office final report regarding the online accommodation booking market

On 19 November 2023, the Hungarian Economic Competition Office (GHV) issued the final report concerning the accelerated sector inquiry into the online accommodation market. This inquiry was launched in response to several complaints from accommodation providers regarding Booking.com's contractual terms and payment practices. GHV recommends that Hungarian legislators prohibit price parity clauses in online accommodation platforms. These clauses, which require accommodations to offer their lowest prices on these platforms, are seen as hindering competition and possibly leading to higher consumer prices. The GHV recommends transparency in accommodation platform rankings to address the issue of higher commissions influencing placement. It also advocates for equitable complaint handling and contractual practices between platforms and accommodation providers to address current imbalances. The GHV therefore seeks stricter regulations on terms and conditions for major accommodation intermediaries.