携程，撞到了“反垄断”枪口上

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the growing tension between the Yunnan Homestay Association and the online travel agency (OTA) Ctrip, driven by allegations of monopolistic practices and unfair competition in the industry [2][21][22]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The State Administration for Market Regulation released a draft guideline indicating that requiring merchants to maintain "the lowest price online" may constitute abuse of market dominance or monopolistic agreements [2][20]. - Ctrip has been under scrutiny from regulatory bodies, with multiple administrative interviews conducted to address issues such as "choose one from two" practices and price manipulation [11][31][34]. Group 2: Industry Response - The Yunnan Homestay Association initiated a collective action against Ctrip, citing long-standing grievances regarding unfair practices, including unilateral commission increases and unfair trading conditions [5][25]. - The association has engaged a specialized legal team to gather evidence for potential collective complaints and antitrust lawsuits against Ctrip [6][25]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Ctrip is projected to hold a 56% market share in the hotel and travel market by 2024, with its closest competitor, Tongcheng, at 13%, indicating a significant concentration of market power [8][27]. - The commission rates for merchants on Ctrip typically range from 10% to 15%, but additional hidden costs can push total commission expenses close to 40%, severely impacting profit margins for small operators [9][28][29]. Group 4: Technological Manipulation - Ctrip's "pricing assistant" tool is criticized for undermining merchants' pricing autonomy by automatically adjusting prices based on competitor rates, often without merchant consent [14][35][36]. - The platform's insistence on maintaining "the lowest price online" effectively shifts competitive costs onto merchants, exacerbating their financial strain [17][38]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The article questions whether Ctrip can reconcile its business interests with regulatory compliance and regain trust from merchants and consumers in the coming decade [39][40].