Financial setback for Booking due to investigation by US regulator FTC. Booking Holdings announced on Tuesday that it had recognized a $100 million loss and reduced revenue by $900 million in connection with an investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into subsidiary Priceline's involvement in potentially misleading hotel advertisements. The FTC is investigating the relationship between Priceline and Guest Reservations, an external website that offers hotel rooms. This website regularly charges higher prices and additional fees than is usual directly with hotels. The regulator is investigating, among other things, whether Guest Reservations violates rules against impersonating another company. It is also looking at possible violations related to failing to clearly disclose additional costs. Guest Reservations has meanwhile received more than 1,000 complaints at the Better Business Bureau, the US consumer organization. Many consumers say they thought they were booking directly with a hotel. Afterwards they were confronted with unexpected additional costs. Customers also complained about customer service staff who were difficult to reach or did not respond. Booking Holdings has stated that no settlement has yet been reached and that legal proceedings are still possible. The company warns that it may still receive additional fines. As a result of this matter, revenue for the third quarter fell by 1 percent compared with the same period last year. Booking Holdings shares fell 1.5 percent after the market close. Incidentally, Booking Holdings recorded strong operational results in the third quarter of 2026. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 17 percent and total booking volume increased by 10 percent (pdf). Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda and Kayak, among others, reported revenue of $8.89 billion for the third quarter. Without the $900 million financial correction related to the FTC matter, adjusted revenue would have risen by 9% to $9.79 billion. Gross bookings increased by 10 percent to $54.5 billion. The number of booked hotel nights rose by 7 percent to 345 million. This means underlying demand for travel remains relatively strong. Net profit came out at $2.72 billion, compared with $2.75 billion a year earlier. Adjusted net profit, by contrast, rose by 8 percent to $3.51 billion. The European Commission launched a formal investigation into Booking.com on October 21, 2026. The Commission is investigating, among other things, whether the booking platform takes sufficient measures against fraudulent listings and phishing. According to platform lawyer Stephan Mulders of Blenheim Advocaten, the investigation could also have major consequences for hotels that offer their rooms via Booking.com. Mulders expects that, as a result of the investigation, Booking.com will take a more critical look at possible fraud and violations of its terms and conditions. This could mean that hotels more quickly face warnings, restrictions or, in the most extreme case, closure of their account. The investigation is based on the Digital Services Act (DSA). Booking.com may have violated this legislation by insufficiently carefully assessing or insufficiently effectively limiting risks related to fraudulent listings and phishing. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is also participating in the investigation. The ACM is the supervisory authority for the DSA in the Netherlands. Because Booking.com is based in the Netherlands, the regulator is working with the European Commission on this investigation.

Singapore Tourism Board and Booking.com sign three-year partnership to boost tourism growth. 30.10.2026 Singapore Tourism Board and Booking.com have signed a three-year agreement to increase visitor arrivals and spending through joint marketing, data collaboration, targeted travel promotions and sustainability initiatives. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Booking.com have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase visitor arrivals, encourage higher tourism spending and strengthen destination marketing. Announced on 21 October 2026 alongside ITB Asia, the Singapore Booking.com partnership will focus on joint marketing campaigns, travel product development, data collaboration and sustainability initiatives. The agreement will also support STB's Tourism 2040 objectives by encouraging international visitors to stay longer, return more frequently and explore additional experiences across Singapore. * Singapore Tourism Board and Booking.com have signed their first three-year MOU to support tourism demand, visitor spending and destination promotion. * The partnership will introduce joint marketing campaigns and travel promotions covering accommodation, flights, attractions and experiences, targeting new and returning visitors. * Both organisations will explore regular data sharing and sustainability initiatives to support tourism planning and collaboration with industry partners. Singapore Tourism Board and Booking.com establish three-year cooperation. The agreement marks the first formal MOU between Singapore Tourism Board and Booking.com. It was signed alongside ITB Asia 2026, the international travel trade exhibition held in Singapore. The partnership brings together STB's destination development and marketing activities with Booking.com's international travel platform. Booking.com operates across more than 220 countries and territories, providing access to travellers from a wide range of source markets. Through the agreement, both organisations will collaborate on initiatives designed to increase destination demand and encourage visitors to spend more time in Singapore. The programme will also support Singapore's longer-term tourism development priorities under the Tourism 2040 strategy. Joint marketing campaigns to promote Singapore travel experiences. A central component of the Singapore Booking.com partnership will be the development of joint marketing campaigns targeting selected international consumer segments. These campaigns will promote accommodation, flights, attractions and travel experiences, encouraging visitors to discover different aspects of Singapore. In addition, Booking.com will work with participating merchants to develop new products and targeted promotional offers. The initiatives will aim to convert long-haul transit and stopover passengers into visitors who spend time in Singapore. They will also encourage travellers to extend their stays and participate in additional activities during their visits. Meanwhile, the partners will use Booking.com's international reach to engage both first-time visitors and travellers who have previously visited Singapore. Data collaboration to strengthen understanding of visitor behaviour. Under the three-year agreement, STB and Booking.com will establish a framework for regular exchanges of tourism data and market insights. The collaboration will focus on understanding international travel patterns, seasonal booking trends and visitor preferences. Both organisations intend to use these insights to inform their destination marketing activities and identify opportunities for future campaigns. The data-sharing framework will also support cooperation between the tourism authority and Booking.com's travel distribution network. Discover more Asia travel guides Travel news subscription Sustainable tourism consulting Sustainability initiatives included in the partnership. Sustainability forms another area of cooperation under the MOU. Booking.com will participate in selected STB sustainability initiatives, including opportunities to exchange industry practices and case studies. The collaboration will explore how tourism businesses and travel platforms can contribute to Singapore's sustainable tourism objectives. Both organisations will also work with travel industry partners to share relevant knowledge and support responsible tourism development. Singapore Tourism Board aims to encourage longer stays and repeat visits. Edward Koh, Executive Director, International Group HQ & Oceania at Singapore Tourism Board, welcomed the agreement and highlighted its role in supporting Singapore's international tourism promotion. "STB is pleased to partner with Booking.com to strengthen Singapore's position as a premier destination for travellers worldwide. This is STB's first MOU with Booking.com and by leveraging Booking.com's extensive global reach, this partnership will allow us to drive immediate and future demand by encouraging travellers to stay longer, visit more often, and do more in Singapore. We also look forward to collaborating on new data insights and sustainability initiatives, as part of our commitment to working with the industry in building a future-ready tourism sector together." The agreement will support STB's efforts to expand international destination awareness while promoting Singapore's accommodation, attractions and tourism experiences to different visitor segments. Booking.com highlights tourism partnerships across Asia. Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Booking.com, described the agreement as part of the company's continuing engagement with national tourism organisations in the region. "We are delighted to partner with the Singapore Tourism Board over the next three years, reflecting our long-term commitment to the country. This marks an exciting new chapter for us as we deepen our commitment to working with national tourism organisations in Asia. By combining Booking.com's global reach, expertise, data insights and technology with STB's vision, we aim to make it even easier for travellers to discover everything Singapore has to offer, from its rich culture and iconic experiences to a growing range of sustainable travel options. Beyond driving bookings, this partnership reinforces our shared commitment to supporting local travel trade partners and fostering long-term, responsible growth for Singapore's tourism industry." Booking.com will contribute its distribution capabilities, technology and market insights to the joint activities. The company will also engage accommodation and tourism merchants in developing products and offers for international visitors. Partnership to support Singapore's Tourism 2040 objectives. The three-year programme will form part of STB's efforts to advance Singapore's Tourism 2040 goals, which include strengthening destination demand and encouraging higher visitor spending. The Singapore Booking.com partnership will bring together joint marketing activities, merchant engagement, tourism data exchanges and sustainability cooperation. Both organisations will focus on promoting travel experiences and improving access to tourism products through Booking.com's platform. The agreement was signed by Laura Houldsworth and Edward Koh in conjunction with ITB Asia 2026. The organisations will work together over the next three years to promote Singapore to new and repeat international travellers. Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.

EU launches DSA probe into Booking.com - stricter enforcement could hit hotels. 27/10/2026 Amsterdam, 27 October 2026 - The European Commission opened a formal investigation on 21 October 2026 into Booking.com to assess whether the booking platform has adequately addressed risks from fraudulent listings, phishing and unclear paid advertising, regulators announced. Scope of the investigation. The probe is being carried out under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is examining whether Booking.com has sufficiently identified and mitigated systemic risks such as fake or non-compliant accommodation listings, misuse of user data for phishing or fraud, and whether paid promotions on the platform are clearly identifiable for users. The Dutch competition and consumer authority, Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM), is cooperating in the inquiry because Booking.com is established in the Netherlands and the ACM is the national DSA supervisor for the country. What the probe could mean for hotels. Platform lawyer Stephan Mulders of Blenheim Advocaten warned that an investigation of this kind typically prompts platforms to tighten enforcement. "Booking.com will likely scrutinise potential fraud and breaches of its terms more closely," Mulders said. That could translate into a higher frequency of warnings, temporary restrictions or in severe cases the closure of hotel accounts. Booking.com accounts for a large share of European bookings - industry estimates indicate roughly two-thirds of hotel bookings in Europe go through online travel platforms, with Booking.com the largest among them - so any change in enforcement practices could have material effects for many properties. Rules on suspensions and terminations. When an online platform restricts, suspends or ends services for a business user it must follow rules set out both in the DSA and in the Platform-to-Business (P2B) regulation. According to ACM guidance referenced by legal counsel, platforms should clearly state in their terms the reasons that may lead to restrictions or account termination and must provide motivated decisions to the affected business user. * Notice period - in principle a platform must give a motivated notice at least 30 days before termination takes effect. * Immediate termination - may be permitted in cases of repeated or serious breaches, but must still be justified and proportional. * Transparent motivation - any restriction, suspension or termination should be communicated on a durable medium (for example, e-mail) with a clear explanation. Legal precedent: hotels can contest closures. Mulders highlighted recent case law that shows hotels do not necessarily have to accept account closures without challenge. In 2025 the Amsterdam court prevented Booking.com from closing a hotel account because the platform had failed to prove a breach of its rules. In 2026 the Amsterdam Court of Appeal partially confirmed that judgment: it ruled Booking.com could not terminate the agreement solely over a single self-written review, but did find a separate unpaid invoice provided a valid ground for termination. Those rulings underline that the legal basis and process for any closure will be closely scrutinised by courts and that businesses may successfully contest unjustified measures - provided they mount a robust legal defence. Advice for hotels. Legal advisers recommend that hotels using Booking.com take proactive steps now to reduce the risk of enforcement action and to be ready to challenge any measures that are imposed: * Review compliance with Booking.com's current terms and conditions and update internal policies where necessary. * Set clear internal procedures for handling reviews, guest communication and platform-related disputes. * Ensure messages and account notifications from Booking.com are routed to staff who check them promptly (not to spam folders). * Respond quickly and carefully to any warnings or notices from the platform and keep a full record of correspondence. * Document complaints and the way they were resolved to show good-faith compliance and proportional handling. "Preventing problems is easier than trying to reopen a closed account afterwards," Mulders said, urging hoteliers to get their processes in order while the investigation is ongoing. What happens next. The Commission's formal probe will now examine Booking.com's risk assessments, mitigation measures and transparency practices. If it finds serious shortcomings, regulators can demand changes and ultimately impose sanctions under the DSA framework. The ACM's involvement means the outcome will be closely watched by other national supervisors and platform participants across the EU.