Hungarian hotels join lawsuit against Booking.com
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HOTREC, the umbrella organization for hotel and accommodation associations in EU member states, is launching a joint Europe-wide lawsuit against Booking.com with the support of national associations, which Hungarian hotels can also join. The proceedings are based on the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 19 September 2024 (C-264/23), which ruled that the price parity clauses applied by Booking.com violate EU competition law.
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According to the judgment, the clauses prevented hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or other channels, thereby restricting direct bookings, distorting market competition and forcing accommodation providers to pay high commissions.
The collective action aims to enable hotels to reclaim a significant portion of the commissions paid to Booking.com between 2004 and 2024, including interest. The initiative is supported by hotel associations in more than 25 countries, including the Hungarian Hotel and Restaurant Association.