China Investigates Online Travel Platforms for Unfair Practices

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China Investigates Online Travel Platforms for Unfair Practices

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China has initiated investigations into four prominent online hotel and travel booking platforms for alleged unfair competition and practices that could undermine the rights of merchants. The Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation announced on Saturday, September 19, 2026, that it is probing Hangzhou Taomei Aviation Service (an Alibaba unit), Tongcheng Network Technology, Tujia Online Information Technology (Tianjin), and Beijing Sankuai Information Technology (a Meituan unit).

These investigations are part of a broader regulatory crackdown on the online travel sector, following a sector-wide review and a meeting held by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The China Hospitality Association has publicly supported these investigations, advocating for greater transparency from platforms regarding their trading rules and algorithms, including search rankings, traffic allocation, commission rates, and promotional programs. The association also called for enhanced industry self-discipline and closer cooperation with hospitality businesses.

This move by regulators follows a significant antitrust penalty in July 2026, when Trip.com was fined 5.18 billion yuan (approximately US$765 million) for abusing its dominant position in China’s online hotel booking market. The current investigations signal continued regulatory scrutiny into how major online travel platforms interact with hotels and other merchants, particularly concerning commissions, platform traffic, and promotional practices. While the probes have been launched, no penalties or specific findings against the four named platforms have been announced at this time.

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