Over 10,000 European hotels take legal action, joining a class suit against Booking.com.
In a landmark move, over 10,000 European hotels have joined forces to sue Booking.com, challenging the company's former "best price" policy that restricted hotels from offering lower rates elsewhere, including on their own websites [1][3][4]. This legal action seeks damages for the period from 2004 to 2024 and alleges antitrust violations that undermined competition and pricing autonomy in the European hospitality industry.
The lawsuit follows a 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that declared Booking.com's pricing clauses illegal. Subsequently, such clauses were removed across the European Economic Area in compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) 2024 [1][2]. The Hotel Claims Alliance, supported by over 30 national hotel associations and coordinated by the European Hotel Alliance Hotrec, is leading the effort. Hotrec extended the deadline for hotels to join the collective action until August 29, 2025 [2][5].
Booking.com, however, has not yet received an official lawsuit. The company characterizes the announcement as a declaration from Hotrec rather than a formally filed class action. They also dispute the allegations, emphasizing that partners have control over their pricing and distribution strategies [2].
The "best price" policy, in place from 2004 to 2024, aimed to prevent customers from finding a hotel on Booking.com and then booking a room at a more favorable price on the hotel's site. Preliminary estimates suggest that those affected by the unfair pricing policy could recover 30% of the commission paid to Booking.com since 2004 [6].
Booking.com was founded in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam in 1996 and was purchased by The Priceline Group in 2005 for $133 million. The Priceline Group later renamed itself Booking Holdings in February 2018 [7].
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Booking Holdings reported a 16% increase in revenue to $6.8 billion in the second quarter of 2025, according to the company's official financial report. However, the net profit fell by 41% to $895 million in the same period [8].
Alexandros Vasilikos, the head of the European association of hotels, cafes, and restaurants Hotrec, stated that the hospitality industry in Europe will not tolerate abuses on the digital market [9]. This case represents a significant industry pushback against platform-imposed pricing restrictions, aiming to restore competitive fairness and hotel pricing freedom within the European hospitality sector [1][3][5].
The court in the Netherlands, where Booking.com's headquarters is located, will consider the lawsuit after August 29. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the online travel industry in Europe.
[1] European Hotels File Class-Action Lawsuit Against Booking.com (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/european-hotels-file-class-action-lawsuit-against-booking-com-2025-08-01/
[2] Hotrec extends deadline for hotels to join Booking.com lawsuit (2025, August 6). Retrieved from https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/news/hotrec-extends-deadline-for-hotels-to-join-bookingcom-lawsuit
[3] Booking.com Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over 'Best Price' Policy (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-01/booking-com-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-best-price-policy
[4] European Hotels Launch Class Action Against Booking.com (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.skift.com/2025/08/01/european-hotels-launch-class-action-against-booking-com/
[5] European Hotels Sue Booking.com Over 'Best Price' Policy (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/european-hotels-booking-com-lawsuit-best-price-policy-b2110950.html
[6] European hotels sue Booking.com over 'best price' policy (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57942341
[7] Booking Holdings (2021, February 14). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booking_Holdings
[8] Booking Holdings Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results (2025, August 4). Retrieved from https://www.bookingholdings.com/investor-relations/financial-results/quarterly-results/2025/q2/
[9] European hotels sue Booking.com over 'best price' policy (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57942341
Comparing the financial implications, the lawsuit against Booking.com by European hotels could potentially recover 30% of the commission paid to them since 2004, while Booking Holdings reported a 16% increase in revenue to $6.8 billion in the second quarter of 2025 despite the ongoing legal proceedings.
Furthermore, the legal action highlights the use of technology and its impact on the European business sector, as the case concerns antitrust violations within the online travel industry, particularly involving Booking.com's former "best price" policy.
