Booking.com Supports New Commitments in Europe

Booking.com Announces Support of New Commitments in Europe overview

Amsterdam, April 21, 2015 – Today Booking.com, an operating business of The Priceline Group [NASDAQ: PCLN] announced its support of recent decisions by the National Competition Authorities in France, Italy and Sweden to accept amendments to Booking.com’s parity commitments in respect of hotels located in those countries.

Important details from the source

• Under the new commitments, Booking.com will abandon its price, availability and booking conditions parity provisions with respect to other online travel agencies.
• This will create an environment that supports increased transparency and competition among online travel agencies which will ultimately benefit consumers, as well as hoteliers, by encouraging the freedom for properties to offer different pricing and booking policies (e.g.
• free cancellation, WIFI, breakfast) through different online travel agencies.
• The commitments do allow Booking.com to retain its “narrow MFNs” for prices and booking conditions which will ensure hotels offer the same rates and booking conditions on Booking.com as they do through their own direct website.
• Furthermore, the commitments do allow Booking.com to require a minimum allocation, or some availability, from hotels.
• “We welcome and encourage fair competition in the marketplace because competition drives innovation, efficiencies, and most importantly, greater value for consumers.
• Booking.com intends to implement these commitments throughout the European Economic Area and is working with all other European National Competition Authorities towards this objective.
• Booking.com trusts that its commitments will set the tone for an industry wide solution which all European NCAs will endorse and safeguard.
• Booking.com Public Relations: mediarelations@booking.com.
• Priceline Group Public Relations: Leslie Cafferty - leslie.cafferty@pricelinegroup.com.

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Use this guide as a structured discovery starting point. Compare the listed options by travel style, season, location, time available, and practical booking needs before making a final decision.

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• Readers comparing several destinations, places, or ideas in one topic.
• Travellers who want inspiration before narrowing down the final plan.
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Things to check before deciding

• Current prices, availability, opening times, and travel conditions.
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Conclusion

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