Japan’s Top Hotels Under Scrutiny For Potential Price Collusion As Tourism Booms

A group of Japan’s top hotels, including Tokyo’s historic Imperial Hotel and New Otani, have been sharing rates information in a potential breach of anti-monopoly rules, the country’s antitrust watchdog said in a warning.

Fifteen major operators were hit with the notice by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission on Thursday, saying the companies shared commercially-sensitive information like price-setting policies, revenue per room, and projected occupancy rates. The exchanges may constitute unfair trading, the FTC said, and risk violating rules that cover cartel-like behavior.