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MakeMyTrip-GoIbibo, Oyo Face Probe For Alleged Unfair Business Practices

CCI has concluded that “prima-facie” MakeMyTrip-Ibibo and Oyo are in violation of India’s competition laws.

The logo of Oyo Hotels and Homes is displayed outside a hotel in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India. (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)
The logo of Oyo Hotels and Homes is displayed outside a hotel in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India. (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)

The Competition Commission of India has ordered an investigation against online travel agents MakeMyTrip-GoIbibo and hospitality services provider Oyo Homes & Hotels for alleged unfair business practices.

Following a complaint from the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, the watchdog looked into various aspects of their businesses and concluded that "prima-facie" there are violations of India’s competition laws.

For the case, CCI assessed the allegations on the basis of two relevant markets. In the case of MakeMyTrip-GoIbibo, it is the 'market for online intermediation services for booking of hotels in India' and for Oyo, it is the 'market for franchising services for budget hotels in India'.

MakeMyTrip has acquired GoIbibo. CCI said that the entity prima-facie appears to be a dominant player in the relevant market.

"...Prima-facie Oyo is not found to hold a dominant position, despite being a significant player in the market for franchising services for budget hotels in India'," it noted.

According to the competition regulator, the delineation of relevant market is based on market realities as they exist at the time of assessment and that in rapidly changing markets in particular, market assessment cannot have a static approach.

In a 26-page order, CCI said there exists a prima-facie case for investigation against MakeMyTrip-Ibibo and Oyo for alleged violation of the provisions of Section 3(4) of the Competition Act. This section pertains to anti-competitive agreements.

"Further, a prima-facie case for investigation under Section 4 of the Act is made out against MMT-Go," it added.

Section 4 relates to the abuse of a dominant position. "Thus, whether the commercial agreement between OYO and MMT entails preferential treatment to OYO and consequent exclusion of Treebo, Fab hotel, and any other hotel chain and if so, the effect of the same on competition merits investigation," the order, dated Oct. 28, said.

Regarding allegations that MMT-Go artificially creates a demand-supply gap on its platform and accordingly fluctuates prices, the Commission said that it finds such issues to be potentially abusive.

"... since MMT-Go has been found to be dominant, they need to be investigated. Though the Commission has taken note of the justifications offered by MMT-Go, given its market power owing to the dominant position, the Commission finds it appropriate to test the veracity of the justifications offered by them," it said.

As per the regulator, it has been pointed out that MMT charges a service fee from the consumer at the time of booking the rooms in the name of the hotels, which is pocketed by MMT. "Further, the charging of service fee by MMT is alleged to be discriminatory as such fee is levied on certain hotels and allegedly not levied on high-end of chain hotels. Since MMT is prima facie found to be dominant, this conduct of MMT merits investigation," the order said.