Can a booking site stop you charging less on your own website? Not the largest one, since 13 August 2024.
Not the largest one: under its 13 August 2024 settlement with the Competition Commission, it agreed to remove the price parity terms from all its contracts with places to stay in South Africa, so they may price lower on their own websites [1].
Facts checked 22 October 2026. Each number in brackets links to its source.
What did the Competition Commission find about price parity?
That the largest booking site’s wide and narrow price parity clauses impede competition, and that under narrow parity there is no reason for guests to book direct, as there is no advantage [2].
It also found 70% to 90% of bookings on that site were made on the top ten results, with higher commission buying visibility [3], and that places to stay depend on it as a must-have partner [4].
What changed on 13 August 2024?
The largest booking site agreed to remove the wide and narrow price parity terms from all its contracts with places to stay in South Africa [1]. At that date, four other firms were still appealing the inquiry’s findings .
Can you offer a lower price on your own website?
Yes, as far as the largest booking site’s South African contracts go, since 13 August 2024 [1].
A direct card payment costs 3.2% plus R2 at a South African payment gateway [5], against 15% standard commission on the largest booking site [3].
What we could not confirm about price parity
We found no later Competition Commission notice confirming the change was carried out. If a booking site tells you otherwise, ask it for the clause in your contract.
More answers for lodge owners
- Can you pay to appear in ChatGPT’s answers?
- Does a booking-site listing help AI find your lodge?
- How do AI assistants choose places to stay?
- How do guests reach your lodge, and what does each route cost?
- Every answer for lodge owners
What we do for a place to stay, for one flat monthly fee: the Playbook.
Sources for this page
- Competition Commission, settlement statement. Dated 13 August 2024; checked 22 October 2026.
- Competition Commission, summary of findings. Dated July 2023; checked 22 October 2026.
- Competition Commission, Online Intermediation Platforms Market Inquiry, final report. Dated July 2023; checked 22 October 2026.
- Competition Commission, final report, annexure on travel and accommodation. Dated July 2023; checked 22 October 2026.
- A South African payment gateway's fees page. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.