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EU Court Upholds Booking.com’s Dominance in Online Hotel Sales, Representing 20.6% of European Market

💸 September 22, 2026, Europe: Booking.com's Peter Lochbihler claims balanced hotel distribution, citing HOTREC study. Online travel agencies account for 29.9% of bookings, with Booking.com taking 66.1% of that, or 19.8% overall. Booking Holdings, including Agoda and Priceline, reaches 20.6%. The EU court upheld Booking's market dominance claim on September 9. Direct bookings stand at 51.3%. Independent hotels see Booking Holdings at 69.4% of OTA bookings. HOTREC urges Digital…

Innovation

Google’s AI Hotel Booking Standard Merged by Council with Three OTAs, Excludes Post-Purchase Management

🏨 On September 24, 2026, the Universal Commerce Protocol merged its AI lodging booking draft, a standard initiated by Google in January. This draft defines booking elements like room type and pricing but excludes post-purchase management, such as modifications. The council includes Google, Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Hilton, Marriott, and Trip.com. The draft’s focus ends at confirmation issuance, and while it aims for broader accessibility, independent hotels must engage via…

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