Suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to hotel accommodation services

On 24 February 2026, the CMA launched an investigation under the Competition Act 1998 (CA98) into suspected infringements of the Chapter I prohibition of the CA98. 

The investigation concerns the suspected sharing of competitively sensitive information among competing hotel providers via a hotel data services provider.  

The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any party or parties. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections and no assumption should be made at this stage that the CA98 has been infringed. 

If the CMA ultimately proceeds to issuing a statement of objections, it will provide the addressee(s) of that statement of objections with an opportunity to make written and oral representations, before it makes a final decision on whether the law has been broken. Further detail on the CMA’s procedures in CA98 cases is available in our CMA8 guidance. 

Section 25B of the CA98 imposes a duty on anyone who knows or suspects that the CMA is carrying out, or is likely to carry out, an investigation under the CA98 to preserve relevant documents and information. Such a person must not falsify, conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of a document which the person knows or suspects is or would be relevant to the investigation (or cause or permit this to be done). The CMA may fine the person if they fail to comply with this duty, without reasonable excuse.