Voice reading · ~1 minWelcome to the Notitur daily brief, your travel-industry recap. Today: Hotels vs. Booking: the firms defending hoteliers' interests in Spain. The September 2024 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Booking.com's price parity clauses has shaken the Spanish hotel sector. The judgment states that these clauses must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, opening the door to damage claims against the OTA.. In this context, several specialized consultancies and law firms are already offering services to help hotels regain control of their distribution and claim compensation. According to Hosteltur, these companies have positioned themselves as the legal and strategic arm of hoteliers against the platform.. My take: this is no easy fight, but there is finally a legal framework to put limits on Booking's dominance. Independent hoteliers, who for years have suffered commissions of 15-20%, now have tools to negotiate from a stronger position. The key is to act fast with expert advice, not to wait for the market to self-regulate. The moment to defend your margins is now. That is today's recap. Come back tomorrow for more on travel, artificial intelligence and travel tech. See you tomorrow on Notitur.
The September 2024 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Booking.com's price parity clauses has shaken the Spanish hotel sector. The judgment states that these clauses must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, opening the door to damage claims against the OTA.
In this context, several specialized consultancies and law firms are already offering services to help hotels regain control of their distribution and claim compensation. According to Hosteltur, these companies have positioned themselves as the legal and strategic arm of hoteliers against the platform.
My take: this is no easy fight, but there is finally a legal framework to put limits on Booking's dominance. Independent hoteliers, who for years have suffered commissions of 15-20%, now have tools to negotiate from a stronger position. The key is to act fast with expert advice, not to wait for the market to self-regulate. The moment to defend your margins is now.
Quick questions
What CJEU ruling affects Booking.com?
In September 2024, the CJEU ruled that Booking's parity clauses must be assessed case by case, enabling hotels to claim for anti-competitive practices.
What are Booking's parity clauses?
They require the hotel to offer the same (or better) price on Booking as on any other channel. The CJEU ruling questions their legality.
Can a hotel now claim damages from Booking?
Yes, under the new legal precedent. Several law firms and consultancies in Spain offer services to help hotels file claims for abusive commissions and unfair parity.
Which firms help hotels fight Booking?
According to Hosteltur, firms like Uría Menéndez, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, and specialized revenue management consultancies provide tailored legal and strategic advice.
Does this benefit small hotels or only chains?
Both. Independent hotels suffer most from Booking dependency. Legal guidance can help them negotiate better terms or even take legal action.
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