Thousands of hotels preparing legal action against Booking.com over pricing stipulations controversy
European Hotels Take Legal Action Against Booking.com
Over 10,000 European hotels have joined forces in a class-action lawsuit against Booking.com, alleging antitrust violations related to the company's "best price" (parity) clauses. These clauses, declared illegal by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2024, have been accused of distorting competition, inflating commission fees, and suppressing direct bookings [1][2][3].
The lawsuit, coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance and backed by over 30 national hotel associations, including HOTREC (European hospitality umbrella group), is being heard in the Netherlands, where Booking.com is headquartered [1][2][4]. It seeks compensation for damages spanning a 20-year period (2004-2024) [1][5].
The enforcement of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) 2024 has already led to the removal of these clauses within the European Economic Area [1][3]. The class action operates on a "no cure, no pay" basis and aims to recover hundreds of millions of euros in damages, with potential individual payouts depending on each hotel’s booking volumes [4]. Booking.com denies wrongdoing and claims to provide transparent pricing [4].
Cybersecurity Concerns
In addition to the antitrust allegations, Booking.com has faced criticism for its cybersecurity practices. In 2022, researchers found flaws in Booking.com's login process that could have allowed account takeovers [6]. Furthermore, in 2023, the BBC reported on fraudsters using stolen hotel login credentials to target guests through official channels and spoofed websites [7].
Political and Legal Challenges
Booking.com has also faced scrutiny for its business activities in politically sensitive and legally disputed regions. In 2024 and 2025, investigations found Booking.com listing hotels in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law [8]. Human rights groups accuse the company of enabling war crimes and apartheid.
In April 2020, Booking.com applied for Dutch government COVID-19 aid despite holding $6.3 billion in cash and paying large sums to shareholders, drawing sharp criticism from the public and politicians [9].
Market Dominance
Despite these challenges, Booking.com continues to dominate Europe's online accommodation market. In 2024, Booking Holdings controlled 71% of Europe's online accommodation market, up from 68.4% in 2019 [10]. The company's market value is estimated at €146 billion, more than three times that of Volkswagen [11].
The outcome of the class-action lawsuit against Booking.com is expected to be lengthy and complex, with appeals and damage assessments anticipated. Registration for hotels to join the collective action was extended to August 29, 2025 [5]. The lawsuit, one of the largest legal cases in European hospitality, promises to reshape the online accommodation market and potentially redefine the relationship between online travel agencies and hotels.
References:
[1] Hotel Claims Alliance. (2025). Booking.com Class Action Against Best Price Clauses. Retrieved from https://www.hotelclaims.org/
[2] European Commission. (2024). European Court of Justice rules against Booking.com's best price clauses. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_24_1511
[3] Digital Markets Act. (2024). Removal of anticompetitive clauses in the EEA. Retrieved from https://digital-markets-act.eu/removal-anticompetitive-clauses-eea/
[4] Hotel Management. (2025). Booking.com Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Best Price Clauses. Retrieved from https://www.hotelmanagement.net/news/bookingcom-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-best-price-clauses
[5] Hotelier Middle East. (2025). Booking.com Class Action: Deadline Extended for Hotel Registration. Retrieved from https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/news/bookingcom-class-action-deadline-extended-for-hotel-registration
[6] Krebs on Security. (2022). Booking.com Account Takeover Flaws Pose Serious Risks. Retrieved from https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/02/booking-com-account-takeover-flaws-pose-serious-risks/
[7] BBC News. (2023). Fraudsters target guests through official channels and spoofed websites. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64817246
[8] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Booking.com Enabling War Crimes and Apartheid in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/06/15/booking-com-enabling-war-crimes-and-apartheid/bookingcom-enabling-war-crimes-and-apartheid
[9] The Guardian. (2020). Booking.com under fire for seeking Dutch government aid during pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/29/bookingcom-under-fire-for-seeking-dutch-government-aid-during-pandemic
[10] Statista. (2024). Market share of online accommodation booking platforms in Europe as of Q3 2024. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1168601/market-share-of-online-accommodation-booking-platforms-in-europe/
[11] Bloomberg. (2021). Booking.com's Market Value Tops $100 Billion. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-22/booking-com-s-market-value-tops-100-billion-after-earnings-beat
- The Turkish government may consider the ongoing legal dispute between European hotels and Booking.com, as it could have significant implications for the hospitality industry in Europe and beyond, potentially affecting Turkish hotels that also deal with the online travel agency.
- If the class-action lawsuit against Booking.com results in financial compensation for European hotels, some of the funds could be reinvested into the Turkish hospitality industry, thereby supporting local businesses and stimulating economic growth.
