Dutch Consumers’ Association alleges deceptive pricing tactics and seeks €1 billion in damages for affected travelers
Jul 9, 2025
A potential class-action lawsuit is brewing against Booking.com, with over 200,000 consumers in the Netherlands signing up to claim the travel giant inflated hotel prices and used manipulative online tactics. Spearheaded by the Dutch Consumers’ Association (Consumentenbond), the case targets alleged misconduct dating back to 2013 and estimates damages could reach €1 billion. The accusations revolve around “dark patterns” like misleading scarcity alerts and false discounts, which may have influenced prices across not just Booking.com but competing sites as well.
Key takeaways
- Mass support: Over 200,000 people have joined the potential class-action suit in the Netherlands.
- Allegations: Booking.com is accused of inflating hotel prices and using deceptive tactics (e.g., “only one room left” alerts and fake discounts).
- Wider impact: The claim suggests Booking.com’s practices distorted competition and raised prices across rival OTAs and hotel websites.
- Estimated damages: Consumer harm is preliminarily estimated at €1 billion (~$1.1 billion).
- Scope: Anyone residing in the Netherlands who booked hotels online since January 2013 is eligible to join the action.
- Booking.com’s response: The company denies all allegations, has not received formal legal papers, and rejects settlement talks for now.
- International context: Regulatory authorities in Germany, Spain, and Sweden have also flagged Booking.com for unfair market practices.
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