Approximately200 Romanian hotels join a joint lawsuit in Europe against Booking.com, accusing the platform of price manipulation.
In the heart of 2025, a significant legal battle is unfolding as more than 10,000 hotels across Europe, including numerous Romanian hotels, have banded together in a class action lawsuit against Booking.com. The lawsuit, coordinated by the Hotel Claims Alliance and supported by HOTREC and national hotel associations from several countries, accuses the online travel giant of price fixing through best price clauses and anti-competitive practices [1][2][3][4].
The legal action seeks compensation for years of revenue losses and unfair contract conditions that have diluted hotels' profits. The lawsuit follows a 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice that declared such best price clauses illegal under EU antitrust law [1][3]. Despite Booking.com's removal of these clauses in the European Economic Area in response to the EU Digital Markets Act 2024, hotels still pursue damages for past abuses.
The lawsuit, currently underway before a Dutch court as Booking.com's headquarters are in Amsterdam, aims to restore fair pricing freedom and more balanced contractual terms between online platforms and accommodation providers [3][4]. The litigation process is ongoing, with an extended registration deadline for hotel participants until August 29, 2025 [3].
The case is emblematic of wider tensions in the hospitality sector over digital market fairness and consumer price implications. Regulatory scrutiny on booking platforms' business models and commission structures has increased across Europe alongside this legal challenge [2]. As of now, no conclusive resolution has been publicly reported.
The Federation of the Hotel Industry in Romania (FIHR) has joined this European lawsuit against Booking.com. Representatives of the hotel employers' federation will provide support to actors in the local hospitality industry to join the initiative. Over 110 operators running hotels in Romania have already registered in the collective lawsuit, with probably several hundred more expected by the end of the registration period [1][3].
The "best price clauses" prevented hotels from offering rooms at lower prices outside the platform, such as on their own websites, to stop "free-rider" bookings. The ECJ judges determined that platforms like Booking.com can exist economically without such requirements [3]. The lawsuit is a significant pushback against Booking.com's market dominance, which accounts for approximately 71% of Europe's online hotel bookings [2][3].
Despite the criticism, Booking.com remains essential for many hotels, as they strive to reach guests online. The outcome of this legal battle could reshape how online travel agencies negotiate with hotels in European markets.
References:
[1] European Hotels Take Legal Action Against Booking.com. (2025, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/news/european-hotels-take-legal-action-against-booking-com
[2] European Hotels Sue Booking.com Over Alleged Price Fixing. (2025, July 20). Retrieved from https://www.skift.com/2025/07/20/european-hotels-sue-booking-com-over-alleged-price-fixing/
[3] Booking.com Faces Class Action Lawsuit from European Hotels. (2025, July 15). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/booking-com-faces-class-action-lawsuit-european-hotels-2025-07-15/
[4] European Hotels Launch Class Action Lawsuit Against Booking.com. (2025, July 12). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57832027
The legal action initiated by the Hotel Claims Alliance, supported by various entities including the Federation of the Hotel Industry in Romania, aims to obtain compensation for financial losses and unfair contract conditions suffered by hotels due to Booking.com's alleged price fixing and anti-competitive practices. The lawsuit seeks to restore fair pricing freedom and balance in contracts between online platforms and accommodation providers, with many hotels in Romania already participating in the collective lawsuit.
The lawsuit, currently underway in a Dutch court, could significantly impact the financial aspect of the business relationship between online travel agencies like Booking.com and hotels across Europe, potentially reshaping negotiations in the future.
