Booking.com sued by nearly 11,000 European hotels over price‑parity clauses

A collective antitrust lawsuit filed in the Amsterdam District Court has gathered 10,783 hotels across Europe, with organizers aiming to recruit up to 18,000. The action is led by an alliance of hotel operators backed by the European employers’ federation and about 30 national hotel associations. Plaintiffs allege that Booking.com’s price‑parity clauses forced hotels to keep rates on the platform at least as low as on any other channel, limiting competition. The European Union Court of Justice previously ruled such clauses illegal under EU competition law.

Italy accounts for the largest national participation, with roughly 3,000 hotels. Booking.com rejects the accusations and says it will defend its practices, arguing the platform benefits hotels by increasing visibility and bookings. The case could become one of the most significant legal battles between a major online travel agency and the European hotel sector, highlighting broader scrutiny of big‑tech market power in tourism.