Hotel groups sue Booking.com for billions of euros

Lawyers acting on behalf of hoteliers across Europe have launched a class action lawsuit against Booking.com in the Netherlands, seeking billions of euros in compensation for “excessive commissions”.

Hotel operators and law firms in France, Spain and Germany led the way in filing claims following a decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last September on the use of “parity clauses” on pricing in Booking’s contracts.

These required hotels to offer their best rates on Booking.com and not undercut these on their own or rival distribution channels.

Lawyers estimate the claim in France alone could be worth €1.5 billion. Now European hospitality association Hotrec reports hotel associations in more than 25 countries have joined the class action in pursuit of “a significant portion of commissions paid to Booking.com between 2004 and 2024, plus interest”.

Hotrec estimated Booking. com’s share of Europe’s OTA hotel bookings at 70% last year.

However, Booking disputes the claim, with a spokesperson saying the ECJ ruling “does not open the door to damage claims”.