Booking has eliminated the use of external pricing—such as rates shown on a hotel’s own website—to calculate discounts under its Booking Sponsored Benefit program. The European Commission confirmed this policy change in a document released on September 28, and it now applies to all hotels operating within the European Economic Area, including those in Spain.
The program allows hotels to set a base price on Booking, while the platform may display a lower rate to guests. Previously, Booking compared that price to the hotel’s official website to determine whether to offer discounts. Under the new rules, external pricing will no longer influence discount eligibility.
For instance, if a hotel charged €180 on Booking but €165 on its own site, the platform previously would show the lower rate and compensate the hotel for the €15 difference. That practice is now discontinued. The adjustment aims to encourage hotels to maintain consistent pricing across all booking channels.
The company has also removed two classification labels, “competitive” and “non-competitive”, which previously indicated whether a hotel’s external price was lower than its Booking rate. These labels helped determine discount levels, but they have been phased out. While external prices will still appear for reference, they will no longer affect ranking or discount calculations.
This change does not ensure that booking directly through a hotel’s website will automatically be cheaper. Booking retains the ability to apply its own discounts, funded by the platform rather than external comparisons. Travelers must now compare both options independently, as neither site’s price can be assumed to represent the best value.
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Hotels in the EEA have until September 2026 to adapt to the updated system. The modification comes amid increased regulatory attention to how online travel agencies manage pricing transparency, though Booking states the update simplifies operations for its partners.
According to local reports, the European Commission’s investigation into Booking’s pricing practices contributed to this decision. The platform faced scrutiny over whether its discount system unfairly pressured hotels into lowering rates on third-party sites. By removing external price comparisons, Booking reduces the risk of conflicts while maintaining flexibility in its own promotional structure.
Booking Sponsored Benefit No Longer Relies on External Hotel Pricing for Discounts
Previously, the platform used external pricing to assess eligibility, but this practice has been discontinued. The European Commission’s ruling clarifies that Booking will no longer factor in a hotel’s own website rates for determining discount qualifications.
This means travelers cannot assume that the lowest price on Booking matches the hotel’s official rate or that booking directly through the hotel will always be cheaper. The decision requires guests to compare both options independently before finalizing a reservation.