China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has fined Trip.com Group for monopolization, according to a Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The decision follows an antitrust probe initiated in January, alleging monopolistic practices and abuse of the company's dominant market position.
The SAMR found that Trip.com Group violated Articles 22(4) and 22(5) of China's Anti-Monopoly Law. Those articles prevent businesses with a dominant position from making exclusive deals to restrict other companies' business in the space and imposing unreasonable terms on transactions.
The governing body said Trip.com had implemented traffic-allocation mechanisms, technical measures and platform rules to create exclusive deals with certain hotels in an effort to deliver the lowest prices, according to Reuters.
PhocusWire has reached out to the SAMR for a statement.
According to the SEC filing, the SAMR is requiring Trip.com Group to stop violating acts and refund $18 million in hotel order security deposits that had been compulsorily deducted from operators. It also confiscated $244.4 million in gains from violating acts and fined the company $518.9 million—7.5% of the company’s sales from its 2025 operations in China.
Trip.com Group accepted the decision and said it plans to take measures to implement the SAMR's requirements.
On a conference call, Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, said the company has been working to improve operational practices to align with shifting industry standards.
Additionally, Trip.com Group is moving its partnership model towards what Sun called “a more transparent, balanced and sustainable” structure supporting partner and industry interests. It is also refining its pricing ecosystem, increasing transparency into partner policies, strengthening consumer protection and enhancing its antitrust compliance management system.
“We remain firmly committed to operating in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” Sun said. “While supporting the long-term development of China's travel industry, we believe that a healthy, open and high-quality ecosystem will create lasting value.”
Sun added that the company remains committed to “conducting our business in a manner that supports the healthy, orderly and sustainable development of China's travel industry.”
“We view this moment not as a disruption but as an opportunity to further strengthen our business,” Sun said. “It marks an important milestone as we continue to refine our operating model and ensure it remains aligned with China's evolving regulatory and industry environment.”