Over 10,000 hotels across Europe have launched a collective lawsuit against Booking.com, aiming to recover damages for enforced price agreements that have persisted for the last two decades.

This legal action follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice in late 2024, which declared Best Price Clauses illegal under antitrust law, allowing hotels to challenge Booking.com's pricing practices.

Alexandros Vassilikos, President of Hotrec, emphasized that this lawsuit is a significant stand against digital abuse within the hospitality sector.

The response to the lawsuit has been overwhelmingly positive among hotels, prompting an extension of the registration deadline for participation to August 29, 2025.

Claimants estimate they may seek to recover at least 30% of the commissions paid to Booking.com from 2004 to 2024, as they navigate the legal proceedings in Amsterdam.

Following the ECJ's ruling, Booking.com has ceased using Best Price Clauses, but the Hotel Claims Alliance is pursuing damages for financial losses incurred during the period these clauses were in effect.

In response to the allegations, Booking.com disputes the claims, arguing that the ECJ did not find its pricing clauses to be anti-competitive and asserts its intention to defend its position in court.

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Booking.com remains a crucial platform for many hotels, holding a significant market share of 71% in Europe and 72.3% in Germany as of 2023.

The reliance on Booking.com is underscored by a notable decline in direct bookings in Germany, which have dropped by over 8% from 2013 to 2023.

Hotels have historically been required to pay Booking.com a commission for bookings, a cost that has often been passed on to guests through higher room prices.

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between hotel operators and online booking platforms over pricing strategies and contractual terms.

In the meantime, Booking.com reported a 16% revenue increase in Q2 2025, reaching $6.8 billion, with anticipated growth of 7-9% in Q3.