Booking.com: what has changed, and what Greece will decide
Lefkada hosts using Booking.com have two sets of measures to distinguish. The European Commission reported changes across the European Economic Area in September 2026. Greece’s Competition Commission will examine separate commitments on 28 December 2026. Its decision remains pending [1] [2].
The European changes
According to the European Commission’s 28 September 2026 factsheet, Booking.com has stopped using prices found elsewhere to determine whether a property qualifies for Booking Sponsored Benefit (BSB). It has also added information about programme eligibility, ranking and BSB bookings. Booking.com funds BSB discounts; the property’s own rate and agreed commission remain unchanged [2].
External prices were already excluded from default ranking before these changes. The September 2026 measures added clearer explanations. The Commission said corresponding changes to the contractual ranking text would follow later in 2026 [2].
The Greek proposal
The commitments published for Greece would remove the Performance Score from Preferred and Preferred Plus eligibility. Booking.com could introduce alternative quality-based criteria, subject to the restrictions and advance notice specified in the proposal [3].
The text also proposes clearer ranking information, a dedicated programme-information section in the Extranet, and continued access to data assessing the additional performance associated with Preferred participation. BSB reporting would show the share of discounted bookings and average discount over a rolling 30-day period, alongside a flag on individual reservations. The proposed commitments would last ten years from implementation [3].
Some provisions overlap with the European measures. The Hellenic Competition Commission has expressly said those voluntary changes do not determine the outcome of its Greek case [4].
What a host can check
A host preparing for the December 2026 hearing can compare the published texts with the information shown for their own property:
- Look for ranking explanations in the Extranet and Partner Hub.
- Check Preferred eligibility and the Advanced Performance Insights tab.
- Look for BSB booking indicators and discount reporting.
Keep a dated record of what is displayed. A change in eligibility or reporting alone cannot establish whether a programme improves a property’s earnings.
The HCC rapporteur recommends accepting the commitments. The Commission will reach its own decision after considering the proceedings and the parties’ views. The announced hearing is a date to watch; whether the Greek commitments become binding remains for the Commission to decide [1].
Further Reading
- HCC explanation of the European measures and the separate Greek proceeding, 28 September 2026.
References
- Hellenic Competition Commission: statement on the suspected-abuse case and announced hearing, 29 October 2026.
- European Commission: Booking.com measures under the Digital Markets Act, 28 September 2026, sections on September changes and earlier compliance.
- HCC: proposed Booking.com commitments, pages 1–2, published with the July 2026 consultation.
- HCC: voluntary transparency measures, 28 September 2026, section on commitments before the HCC.
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