Hungarian authority launches expedited investigation against Booking.com

Hungary’s Economic Competition Office (GVH) urged an expedited investigation concerning payables amassed by Dutch travel agency Booking.com to Hungarian accommodation providers, at a meeting of parliament’s tourism subcommittee on Tuesday.

Kristóf Szatmáry, the Fidesz chairman of the session, said the body was seeking ways to prevent international companies from “amassing debts of billions of forints using its superposition”. GVH head Balázs Csaba Rigó said preparations were being made for the probe, and the actual investigation could start before the end of August. He added that the probe should be completed within 30 days, but the term could be extended if necessary.

Following the session, Szatmáry said that “pressure would be maintained” on the company “until all (Hungarian) companies receive their money”. Unless all due payments are made by Booking.com by the beginning of next week, “the measures will be continued . perhaps with another committee meeting,” he said.

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Almost half of the Hungarian accommodations concerned