Booking.com Records Seized Amid Hotel Commission Dispute

Authorities have seized part of Booking.com's records in response to claims by over 15,000 hotels alleging they overpaid commissions due to restrictive pricing rules. The hotels, supported by Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, argue that Booking.com blocked access to old invoices necessary to determine the extent of overpayments.

The legal battle focuses on a pricing rule that Booking.com used for years, which prevented hotels from offering cheaper rates through other channels. Hotels claim this rule weakened their competitive position and forced them to pay inflated commissions. This issue gained further traction after a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling in favor of German hotels, which found that such pricing rules were anti-competitive.

The dispute has now formally advanced in Amsterdam, with the hotels seeking compensation for the alleged overpayments. The case highlights ongoing tensions between online travel agencies and accommodation providers regarding commission structures and rate parity clauses.

In response to regulatory pressure, Booking.com removed the controversial pricing rule in 2024, aligning with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which bans such practices. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how online travel agencies structure their commission agreements in the future.