Booking.com is facing legal action from thousands of European hotels who say they should be compensated for "inflated costs" over the past 20 years.

Booking.com's parity terms, according to over 10,000 hotels in the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes in Europe (Hotrec), prevented them from providing greater availability and lower rates on other platforms or their own websites.

The group claims that hotels around Europe suffered significant financial losses as a result of the website's adoption of "best price" parity clauses.

On September 19, 2024, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared that the rental platform's parity terms were in violation of EU competition law, according to the organization.

In a statement, Hotrec claimed that these provisions had skewed online market competitiveness, reduced direct reservations, and raised commission charges. It further stated that impacted hotels could be entitled to reimbursement for commissions they paid to Booking.com from 2004 to 2024.

On July 30, 2025, Hotrec extended the deadline for all eligible hotels to join the collective action until August 29, 2025. National hotel organizations from 30 nations, including Britain, are supporting the case, which is anticipated to be among the biggest ever brought in the European hospitality industry.

The support for the collective action has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Marie Audren, director general of Hotrec, extending the registration deadline would guarantee that all hotels with an interest have an equal opportunity to take part, even if it is the busiest time of year.

The legal claim is being coordinated by the Stichting Hotel Claims Alliance prior to its presentation in the Dutch courts.

European hoteliers have long faced unjust circumstances and exorbitant prices, according to Alexandros Vassilikos, president of Hotrec. It's time to band together and fights for justice. A powerful message is conveyed by this group effort: harmful actions in the online economy will not be tolerated.