More than 10,000 European hotels have launched a class action lawsuit against booking giant Booking.com, accusing it of distorting the market and causing financial losses over a 20-year period. The legal initiative is being led by the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe (Hotrec), which represents the hospitality industry within the European Union. The deadline to join the lawsuit has been extended to August 29 due to high interest from hotel owners. The lawsuit, described as one of the largest in the history of the European hospitality sector, is supported by 30 national associations, including Britain. According to Hotrec, Booking.com has used the “best price” clause to prevent hotels from offering lower rates on other platforms or on their official websites.
The association claims that this mechanism was imposed through great pressure and has hindered fair competition, also preventing so-called "free-rider" cases - when customers find a hotel on Booking.com, but then book directly with the management.
"Registrations are increasing significantly, and the industry's response shows a strong desire to oppose unfair practices in the digital marketplace," Hotrec's statement said.
If the lawsuit proves successful, it is expected to set an important legal precedent for the relationship between online platforms and the hospitality sector in Europe.
