Suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to hotel accommodation services
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the suspected sharing of competitively sensitive information among competing hotel providers, via a hotel data services provider, which may infringe Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998.
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| August 2026 to January 2027 (estimate) | Investigation continuing: including further evidence gathering, analysis and review of information gathered |
| February 2026 to August 2026 | Initial investigation: information gathering |
| February 2026 | Investigation opened |
Case information
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.
- Press release: CMA launches investigation into hotel chains (2.3.26)
The businesses under investigation are:
- CoStar, including CoStar UK Limited and its ultimate parent company CoStar Group, Inc.
- Hilton, including Hilton Worldwide Limited and its ultimate parent company Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
- IHG, including InterContinental Hotels Group Plc
- Marriott, including Marriott Hotels Limited and its ultimate parent company Marriott International, Inc.
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.
Duty to preserve relevant documents
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.
Personal data
The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the CA98. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
You can find more information about how the CMA handles personal information in the CMA’s personal information charter.
Contacts
- Project Director, Gemma Scott, gemma.scott@cma.gov.uk
- Assistant Director, Sophie Mitchell, sophie.mitchell@cma.gov.uk
- Senior Responsible Officer, Lucilia Falsarella Pereira, lucilia.falsarellapereira@cma.gov.uk
For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office.
- Telephone numbers
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- Phone: 020 3738 6460
- Out of hours: 020 3738 6878
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. On bank holidays, use our out of hours number.
Updates to this page
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Administrative timetable updated.
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First published.