In a landmark legal move, more than 10,000 hotels across Europe have launched a class-action lawsuit against Booking.com, seeking compensation for alleged antitrust violations spanning two decades.

The case, led by the Hotel Claims Alliance and coordinated by the European Hotel Alliance Hotrec, stems from the use of “best price” clauses by Booking.com that restricted hotels from offering lower rates on their own websites or other platforms. These clauses were deemed illegal in 2024 by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for violating EU competition laws. The ruling came under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), prompting the removal of such clauses within the European Economic Area.

The lawsuit, filed in the Netherlands, where Booking.com is headquartered, is backed by over 30 national hotel associations, including Germany’s IHA and Italy’s Federalberghi. It seeks damages covering the years 2004 to 2024.

“European hoteliers have long suffered from unfair conditions and excessive costs,” said Alexandros Vassilikos, President of Hotrec. “Abusive practices in the digital market will not be tolerated by the hotel industry in Europe.”

Despite the lawsuit, Booking.com remains a dominant force in the hospitality sector. A joint study by Hotrec and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland Valais revealed that Booking Holdings controlled 71% of Europe’s online hotel booking market in 2023, climbing to 72.3% in Germany. Over the same period, direct bookings in Germany dropped by over 8%.

The lawsuit has received overwhelming support, prompting an extension of the registration deadline to 29 August 2025, according to Markus Luthe, Executive Director of IHA.

If successful, the case could set a major precedent for greater fairness and autonomy for hoteliers across Europe in the digital marketplace.