Price binding: thousands of hotels complain against booking.com

Europe’s hotel industry goes to court against Booking.com. More than 10,000 hotels take part in a class lawsuit against the travel portal in order to request compensation for long -term price bonds. The background is a judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from autumn 2024.

Accordingly, so -called best price clauses are contrary to antitrust rights. These clauses had prevented hotels from being able to offer their rooms away from the platform – for example on their own website. The aim was to prevent so -called running board bookings.

However, the ECJ judges ruled that platforms such as Booking.com can survive economically without such requirements. It made little difference for travelers: The online platform had abolished the clauses in the European Economic Area Due to the EU Digital Act Digital Markets Act (DMA) in 2024.

“European hoteliers have suffered for a long time from unfair conditions and excessive costs,” says the President of the European Hotel Alliance Hotrec, Alexandros Vassilikos. The collective action thus sends a clear message: “The hotel industry in Europe does not accept abusive practices in the digital market.” The aim is to receive compensation for the period from 2004 to 2024.

The lawsuit is negotiated before a Dutch court – the headquarters of the travel portal is coordinated in Amsterdam – and coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance. It is supported by the Hotrec and more than 30 national hotel associations, including the Hotelverband Germany (IHA). “Now it is time to appear together and demand reparation,” says Alessandro Nucara, General Director of the Italian Association of Federal Berghi.

“The class action is an overwhelming encouragement,” says IHA general manager Markus Luthe. Due to the great response, the registration period was extended until August 29.

Despite criticism, Booking.com remains indispensable for many hotels. You can reach a large number of potential guests via the platform. According to a study by Hotrec and the Wallis University of Applied Sciences, the market share of the parent company Booking Holdings was 71 percent across Europe in 2023 – even 72.3 percent in Germany. At the same time, the proportion of direct bookings in Germany has dropped by a good eight percent between 2013 and 2023.