Japan antitrust watchdog probes Expedia and Rakuten

Booking.com also investigated for allegedly constraining hotel rates

20190410 20190410 logo Rakuten Booking Expedia

The three travel websites face administrative penalties if a probe uncovers price-fixing or other violations. (Photo by Masayuki Terazawa)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Leading travel booking websites Rakuten Travel, Expedia and Booking.com are being investigated in Japan over possible antitrust violations, sources told Nikkei.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission suspects the site operators have been unduly constraining hotel room prices to guarantee cheaper rates. The sites take fees from hotels in return for mediating transactions with customers.

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