Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-14 13:05Core Viewpoint - The State Administration for Market Regulation has initiated an investigation into Ctrip Group for suspected monopolistic behavior, specifically regarding the misuse of market dominance under the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China [1][3]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The investigation is based on prior checks and allegations that Ctrip's "Price Adjustment Assistant" disrupts market pricing and hotel operations [1][3]. - Hotel operators in Zhengzhou have complained that Ctrip unilaterally modifies the prices of hotel rooms listed on its platform, requiring merchants to use the "Price Adjustment Assistant" tool, which automatically adjusts prices based on competitor pricing [1][3]. - Ctrip's customer service acknowledged that if competitor prices are lower, the system would automatically adjust Ctrip's prices to maintain contractual consistency [1][3]. Group 2: Company Response - Ctrip has announced its intention to cooperate fully with the regulatory investigation and to implement regulatory requirements while continuing to provide quality services to users and partners [3][4]. - The company stated that all its business operations are currently running normally [4]. Group 3: Legal Implications - Legal experts indicate that if Ctrip is found to have abused its market dominance, it may face administrative penalties, emphasizing that technical or algorithmic settings cannot be used as a defense [2][4].