European Commission Public Consultation on a New Competition Tool

  The New Competition Tool envisaged by the European Commission could provide a valuable additional tool to address the existing structural lack of competition and unfair practices hoteliers experience towards the OTA market (Booking.com, Expedia and others) by imposing specific remedies. In addition, it could used to prevent future markets from tipping – i.e. preventing the forms of structural risks from emerging, for example in the area of online bookings for catering establishments or more broadly, entities like Google further broadening their gatekeeper power. HOTREC's proposed response: Should your organisation wish to respond to the New Competition Tool public consultation, it is highly recommended to mark your submission as ‘anonymous’ (see the first set of questions ‘About You’) and treat your organisation’s and HOTREC’s submission confidentially because of the sensitivity of EU competition policy issues and because of OTAs’ demonstrated capacity for commercial retaliation. HOTREC’s response to this consultation will be submitted on 7 September EOB alongside . Both consultations are closely interrelated.