Google Strips Out EU Travel Search Features to Avoid Fines
Google scales back travel search features in Europe and removes vacation rentals to comply with DMA antitrust regulations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Google is scaling back travel search features in EU to comply with DMA.
- Search results now separate third-party aggregators from direct suppliers.
- EU users can no longer filter by travel dates, live pricing, or tags.
- Vacation rentals unit is being removed from European search results.
Google is scaling back specific search features for travelers across Europe as the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act intensifies, with the tech giant taking steps to avoid severe penalties from antitrust regulators.
The company announced that a revamped search results page tailored for Europe will display two distinct units for searches regarding flights, hotels, or restaurants: one designated exclusively for third-party aggregators and booking sites, alongside a separate unit for direct suppliers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Google also noted that its supplier unit has faced strict limitations, meaning users residing within the European Union can no longer filter search results by travel dates, view live pricing, or utilize descriptive tags directly within the main search interface.
This adjustment highlights the ongoing regulatory pressure faced by major tech platforms under the EU's Digital Markets Act, which aims to level the playing field and curb self-preferencing. While aggregators and hospitality groups welcome a fairer market, Google contends that such restrictions may ultimately harm consumers and drive traffic away from direct bookings.
In a separate statement shared on LinkedIn, Google indicated that it would strip its vacation rentals unit from European search results as early as September 8, though vacation rental feeds will remain operational outside the primary search unit on Google Maps and google.com/hotels.
Source: Skift
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