The UK’s Bed & Breakfast Association (B&BA) is gearing up to launch a collective claim against Booking.com. They say the travel giant’s long-running ‘price parity’ policies have hurt thousands of UK accommodation providers – and it’s time to put things right.
What’s the case about?
It all comes down to price parity clauses. These are contract terms that stop hotels and B&Bs from offering lower prices or better availability on their own websites (or anywhere else) than they do on Booking.com.
The B&BA argues that this practice blocks fair competition, pushes up prices across the board, and hits consumers in the pocket. They also say it lets Booking.com charge “unlawfully high” commissions while keeping smaller businesses tied into restrictive agreements.
Who’s involved?
The claim will be an opt-out collective action filed with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal.
An opt-out claim means everyone affected is automatically included in the legal action unless they actively choose to leave. So thousands of UK accommodation providers, from B&Bs to small hotels, are set to be part of this case.
The B&BA has teamed up with a top legal team who are determined to secure fair compensation for all those impacted.
Why now?
This isn’t happening in isolation. Right across Europe, Booking.com is facing a wave of legal challenges over the same issue. More than 10,000 hotels have joined lawsuits claiming damages for these practices.
It’s not just hotels getting involved. In the Netherlands, a consumer-focused claim is gaining serious traction. Over 130,000 consumers have already signed up. If that case wins, Booking.com could be ordered to pay out significant sums – and it could open the door for similar action here in the UK.
Booking.com responds
Booking.com has defended its policies, stating:
“Asking UK accommodation providers to list the same prices on Booking.com that they do on their own websites ensures we can present the widest possible array of accommodation options to consumers, creating more overall transparency on price in the accommodation market and ultimately encouraging more competition between accommodations themselves.”
What happens next?
If the claim goes ahead, thousands of B&Bs and hotels will automatically be included unless they opt out. Here’s what could follow:
- Damages payout: Compensation for years of losses linked to parity clauses.
- Contract changes: Booking.com may have to amend or scrap parity terms.
- Wider impact: Other online travel agencies could face similar challenges.
This is a big deal because it’s the first UK antitrust group claim against a major online travel agency. Antitrust laws exist to stop companies abusing their power, restricting competition, or imposing unfair terms on smaller businesses.
Ultimately, this is about levelling the playing field and giving independent B&Bs and hotels more control over their pricing and their future.
