Hospitality Coalition Urges EU to Enforce DMA Article 6(5) on Google Search Rankings
European hospitality and travel organisations urged the European Commission to enforce DMA Article 6(5), claiming Google’s search ranks still privilege its own booking and local services over independent hotels and restaurants. They warned that a drop in search visibility could reduce online bookings and revenue for small and medium-sized businesses.
1. Coalition Issues Joint Statement
A group of European hospitality and travel organisations released a joint statement under DMA Article 6(5), arguing that Google’s current search result formats still favour its own booking and local listing services. The coalition claims this practice undermines the law’s intent to prevent self-preferencing and jeopardises fair competition.
2. Impact on Independent Businesses
The organisations warn that diminished search visibility directly affects independent hotels and restaurants, potentially leading to fewer customer bookings and lost revenue, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. They cite web traffic declines as a tangible risk if Google’s ranking criteria remain opaque.
3. Call for Stricter Enforcement
The coalition is urging the European Commission to provide clearer guidance on Article 6(5) and to implement stronger monitoring and penalties for non-compliance. They emphasize the need for transparent ranking algorithms so businesses can verify equal treatment in search results.
4. Broader Digital Competition Context
This push reflects wider tensions in Europe’s digital economy, where regulators aim to curb platform dominance and ensure market access for smaller players. Hospitality groups argue that proving effective DMA enforcement is critical to preserving consumer choice and fostering innovation in online services.