Trip.com penalty: China levies $765 million fine for alleged monopoly abuse

Trip.com penalty sparks regulatory crackdown

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced on Saturday that it has imposed a ↓ 5.2 billion yuan ($765 million) penalty on Trip.com Group, the operator of Ctrip, Skyscanner and other travel brands, accusing the firm of monopolistic conduct.

The regulator alleges that Trip.com forced exclusive contracts with select hotels, blocked those properties from listing on rival platforms, and compelled multi‑platform hotel operators to offer the lowest online rate on its site.

Investigations, launched in January, uncovered “illegal gains” of ↓ 1.6 billion yuan ($245 million), which were confiscated, and a separate fine of over 3.5 billion yuan ($520 million) was levied. Additionally, Trip.com must refund roughly 122 million yuan ($18 million) it allegedly withheld from hotel partners.

“The conduct eliminated competition, constrained hotel operators, infringed pricing rights and harmed consumers,” the regulator said, citing Reuters.

Trip.com issued a brief statement acknowledging the decision, pledging to “sincerely accept and resolutely comply” with the penalties and to implement rectification measures item‑by‑item.

Analysts note that the fine, one of the largest ever imposed on a Chinese tech firm, could reshape the online travel market and signal stricter enforcement of antitrust rules, a trend echoed by Bloomberg.

Intel provided by: Tariq Al-Fayed

Middle East Geopolitical Strategist