European hoteliers seek billions in damages over years of alleged commission overcharges and unfair pricing clauses
Jun 17, 2025
A major legal battle is unfolding in Europe as hotel groups across more than 25 countries have united to file a class action lawsuit against Booking.com, alleging the company charged “excessive commissions” through restrictive pricing clauses. The action, coordinated in the Netherlands, seeks billions of euros in damages, challenging the long-standing dominance of Booking.com in online hotel distribution. The move follows a key European Court of Justice ruling in 2023 concerning “parity clauses,” which many hoteliers argue have unfairly limited their ability to compete on price.
Key takeaways
- Class action filed: Hoteliers across Europe have filed a class action lawsuit against Booking.com in the Netherlands, seeking billions in compensation for alleged overcharges in commissions.
- Focus on parity clauses: The case centers on “parity clauses” in Booking’s contracts, which required hotels to offer equal or better prices on Booking.com than on other platforms or their own websites.
- Legal momentum post-ECJ ruling: The lawsuit follows a 2023 European Court of Justice ruling that questioned the legality of such parity clauses, though Booking.com disputes that this opens the door to compensation claims.
- Scope of the claim: Lawyers estimate the claim in France alone could be worth €1.5 billion. Overall, the class action aims to recover a portion of commissions paid from 2004 to 2024, plus interest.
- Market impact: Booking.com reportedly controlled around 70% of OTA hotel bookings in Europe last year, highlighting the platform’s market power and the potential scale of financial impact if the lawsuit succeeds.
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