GVH noted that it had fined Booking.com B.V. HUF 2.5bn in the spring of 2020 for unfair business practices and ordered the company to cease putting "psychological pressure" on would-be clients.
In a follow-up, GVH found that the company had continued to use the prohibited practices, informing customers that there were "few rooms available on the selected dates", while replacing its "free cancellation" slogan with cheaper, but non-refundable offers that put Hungarian consumers at a disadvantage.
GVH noted that the follow-up fine was the biggest it had ever levied.
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For over 30 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
