Britain’s competition watchdog is to investigate hotel booking sites over concerns that consumers are being misled, pressured, and prevented from finding the best deals.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it would look into whether sites were using pressure tactics to rush customers into booking rooms, and whether they were pushing hotels based on the commission they receive, in what could amount to a breach of consumer law.

About 70% of people researching hotels last year used booking sites, which include Trivago, booking.com, Expedia and Late Rooms. The CMA said consumers needed to be confident they were getting the best deal.

“Sites need to give their customers information that is clear, accurate and presented in a way that enables people to choose the best deal for them,” said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA. “But we are concerned that this is not happening and that the information on sites may in fact be making it difficult for people to make the right choice.

“That’s why we have started our investigation into this sector – to get to the bottom of these issues, see whether sites are breaking consumer law and make sure they help, not hinder, people searching for their next hotel room.”

The CMA will investigate whether sites try to rush customers into making a decision by creating a false impression of room availability, stating how many rooms are left or for how long a price is available.

Other areas of concern include sites potentially steering customers towards hotels based on the amount of commission they earn from a booking, and hidden charges such as taxes and booking fees which might only be revealed at the end of the process.

The CMA has written to companies across the sector asking for information about their practices and wants to hear from consumers about their experiences.

