06:23 AM EDT, 04/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates to add Booking.com's statement)

The Italian Competition Authority launched an investigation into travel company Booking.com BV over alleged unfair commercial practices related to how accommodation providers are ranked on its platform.

The antitrust regulator said Wednesday participants in the preferred partner program seem to receive greater visibility in search results, reinforcing concerns that the scheme favors providers paying higher commissions rather than those offering better quality.

The probe targets Booking.com BV, Booking.com International BV, and Booking.com (Italia). The authority also carried out inspections at Booking.com (Italia)'s premises on Tuesday.

Booking.com told MT Newswires it is cooperating with the regulator and maintained that its optional partner programs "meet consumer law requirements while balancing the interests of [its] accommodation partners and ensuring customers continue to benefit from choice."