Booking.com under fire across Europe
Hotel groups in 26 countries rally behind damages claims over restrictive pricing clauses, following a pivotal EU court ruling
Booking.com could soon face damages claims worth millions of euros as 26 national hotel associations across Europe prepare to support litigation against the company. This follows a significant ruling by the European Court of Justice, which found that Booking.com's price parity clauses - contractual restrictions that prevent hotels from offering cheaper rates elsewhere - may reduce competition, though they are not automatically illegal under EU law. The ruling has reinvigorated long-standing grievances among hoteliers about the platform’s pricing power.
Key takeaways
- Legal Action Brewing: Hotel associations across 26 European countries, backed by umbrella organization HOTREC, are preparing damages claims against Booking.com.
- EU Court Ruling: The ECJ judged that price parity clauses can limit competition but are not per se anti-competitive under EU law.
- Scope of the Case: The ruling stems from a case in a Dutch court involving parity clauses in Germany between 2006–2016. Final judgment on their legality is pending in Amsterdam.
- Booking.com Responds: The company insists the court did not find its clauses anti-competitive and says it hasn’t been informed of any broad legal action.
- Deadline for Action: Hotels have until July 31 to join the damages litigation effort.
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