A coalition of over 10,000 hotels across Europe has initiated a class‑action lawsuit in the Netherlands against Booking.com, alleging that the platform’s now‑banned “best price” or rate parity clauses violated EU competition law between 2004 and 2024. These clauses prohibited hotels from offering lower prices through other channels or on their own websites, which the European Court of Justice ruled unlawful in September 2024
The lawsuit, coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance Foundation and backed by HOTREC along with over 30 national hotel associations, seeks damages for alleged revenue losses and excessive commission expenses that left hotels receiving only about €83–87 per €100 booking after fees
Industry leaders describe the action as a crucial step toward fairer digital business practices. Alexandros Vassilikos, president of HOTREC, stated, “European hoteliers have endured unfair conditions and excessive costs,” while HOTREC’s Director General Marie Audren added that the extension of the registration deadline (now 29 August 2025) will allow more hotels to participate
Despite Booking.com’s market dominance — holding roughly 71% of Europe’s online hotel booking market — many hotels still rely on the platform for visibility. Still, this lawsuit marks a significant pushback, potentially reshaping how hotels engage with major booking platforms and restoring control over pricing strategies
