Over 10,000 Hotels Join Lawsuit Against Booking.com
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More than 10,000 hotels across Europe have united to take legal action against Booking.com. The hotels claim the online travel platform’s pricing rules hurt their business for years. This lawsuit marks a major challenge to the company’s practices.
The case centers on Booking.com’s “best price” clauses, which stopped hotels from offering lower rates on their own websites or other platforms. Hotel owners say these rules limited their ability to compete and attract direct bookings. The lawsuit, backed by the European hospitality group HOTREC, seeks compensation for losses between 2004 and 2024.
A key ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in September 2024 sparked this action. The court found that Booking.com’s “best price” clauses violated EU competition laws. The decision stated these restrictions were unnecessary and harmed competition. Following the ruling, Booking.com dropped the clauses across the European Economic Area, but hotels argue the damage was already done.
“This is a historic moment for the hospitality industry,” said HOTREC President Alexandros Vassilikos. “Hoteliers have faced unfair conditions and high costs for too long. This lawsuit sends a clear message that such practices won’t be tolerated.” The legal action, coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance Foundation, is being heard in a Dutch court, as Booking.com is based in the Netherlands. Over 30 national hotel associations, including the German Hotel Association, support the effort.
The lawsuit has gained strong momentum, with more than 10,000 hotels signing up to join. Due to high demand, HOTREC extended the registration deadline to August 29, 2025. “The response has been overwhelming,” said Markus Luthe, Managing Director of the German Hotel Association. “This shows how deeply these practices affected the industry.”
Booking.com has not yet received an official lawsuit, according to a company statement. The platform denies the claims and rejects the legal arguments based on the ECJ ruling. “Our partners are free to set their own prices and distribute rooms as they choose,” Booking.com said. Despite the dispute, the company remains a vital tool for many hotels. A 2023 study by HOTREC and a Swiss university found Booking.com held a 71% share of Europe’s online hotel booking market.
The outcome of the lawsuit could reshape the online travel industry. Hotels argue that Booking.com’s dominance forced them to pay high commissions, reducing their profits. If successful, the case could lead to significant compensation for the hotels and push for fairer practices in the digital marketplace. For now, hoteliers are standing together, determined to hold the travel giant accountable.
