Dutch Consumer Groups pursue legal action against Booking.com over alleged inflated hotel prices

NETHERLANDS – Two prominent Dutch consumer organizations have initiated a collective legal claim against Booking.com alleging that the platform has been inflating hotel prices for Dutch customers since 2013.

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation (CCC) and the Consumers’ Association announced that they are actively seeking affected consumers to join the lawsuit, which targets what they describe as years of excessive charges for hotel stays.

According to statements from both groups, Booking.com is accused of imposing “parity obligations” on hotels, effectively preventing them from offering lower prices or better conditions on their own websites or through other online platforms.

This practice, they argue, has led to Dutch consumers consistently paying more for hotel rooms than they otherwise would have, resulting in estimated damages amounting to hundreds of millions of euros.

The organizations assert that such conduct constitutes a breach of competition law, including cartel bans and abuse of a dominant market position, as well as violations of the Digital Markets Act.

The CCC’s chairman, Bert Heikens, has indicated that research by the foundation suggests Booking.com has been violating competition regulations and consumer protection laws since January 2013.

Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers’ Association, has also pointed to the use of so-called “dark patterns” on Booking.com’s platform, such as misleading claims about room availability, fake discounts, and incomplete pricing information—which are prohibited under both EU and Dutch law.

These tactics, the groups argue, have influenced consumer decisions and contributed to the financial harm experienced by Dutch travelers.

The legal action follows a 2024 ruling by the European Union’s highest court, which found that Booking.com’s restrictions on hotels offering lower rates elsewhere were unnecessary and could hinder competition, though the court stopped short of declaring such practices outright anti-competitive under EU law.

Nevertheless, the Dutch consumer groups maintain that Booking.com’s practices have resulted in significant and ongoing consumer detriment.

Dutch residents who have booked hotel rooms via Booking.com, affiliated platforms like Agoda, or even directly with hotels affected by these pricing policies since 2013 are being invited to join the collective claim.

Registration is being coordinated by the Consumers’ Association, and while initial participation is free, successful claimants may be required to pay a portion of any compensation awarded to cover legal fee.

Booking.com, for its part, has stated that it is committed to offering travelers the most competitive prices and a transparent booking process, and has rejected the allegations made by the consumer groups.

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