Hot on the heels of its previous scandal, Booking.com is now facing one of the largest class action lawsuits in the EU hospitality sector. 👇
And with thousands of hotels across Europe now planning to sue the multinational company for violating EU competition rules, Booking.com has landed in even hotter water this time around.
Lower than low prices? Not really, hotels say
Sure, those super-low prices on Booking.com look handy, but HOTREC (the European hospitality association) isn’t a fan.
Booking.com’s original contractual terms prevented partner hotels from offering lower prices on any other platform, even the hotel’s own website.
Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in September 2024, it was determined that these terms violated EU competition laws… a claim that Booking.com now brands “incorrect”. 👀
While the multinational company has since removed the so-called “parity clauses” from its terms and conditions, the affected hotels intend to claim compensation for the financial losses suffered.
Hotels across Europe have joined forces
Now, over 10,000 European hotels and 30 hotel associations will join HOTREC in bringing their claims to the Amsterdam District Court.
“European hoteliers have long endured unfair conditions and inflated costs. Now is the time to stand together and seek redress,” says HOTREC President Alexandros Vassilikos.
According to Vassilikos, this strong stance is intended to send a strong message to large companies like Booking.com: “abusive practices in the digital marketplace will not go unchallenged.”
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