Booking.com parent company dealt setback in Dutch court over mass claim

The Amsterdam court has ruled that U.S.-based Booking Holdings and Singapore-based Agoda can be included in a mass claim against Booking.com. The case was brought by the Dutch Consumers’ Association and Stichting Consumenten Competition Claims (CCC), which are seeking to hold the companies accountable as part of the same proceedings. The Amsterdam District Court ruled this week that it has jurisdiction to hear the claim against the two foreign companies, dealing a setback to Booking.com's parent company.

The Consumers’ Association and the CCC filed their lawsuit against Booking.com in November last year. They allege that the platform abused its dominant market position, limited competition, and misled consumers.

The two organizations are seeking compensation for affected customers. At the first hearing in September, the court considered whether the proceedings could also include Booking Holdings and Agoda, which are based outside the Netherlands.

Booking.com, which is based in Amsterdam, argued during the hearing that the entire holding company should not be held liable for the claims. The court has now ruled against Booking Holdings and Agoda.

More than 270,000 people have signed up to participate in the mass claim against Booking.com, according to the Dutch Consumers’ Association. The organization and the CCC accuse Booking.com and Agoda of misleading customers with allegedly fake discounts, incomplete prices, and false suggestions that accommodation or deals are in short supply.

The claimants also allege that Booking.com unlawfully prevents hotels from offering cheaper rates or more favorable booking conditions elsewhere. They are seeking to force the company to end the alleged practices and pay compensation to affected consumers.

Booking.com, which has previously denied the allegations, was asked to respond to the claims.