Amsterdam Court Upholds Booking.com's Position in German Price Parity Case
The Amsterdam District Court ruled that German hotels have not provided evidence that Booking.com's past parity clauses restricted competition. The court also raised concerns about the narrow market definition applied by German authorities, noting that substitutability of other sales channels was not considered. Booking.com has not used parity clauses in Germany since 2016.
Impact and considerations
The ruling affects the competitive legal framework between OTAs and hotels, potentially impacting hotel distribution and pricing strategies.
Key points
- Amsterdam Court upheld key elements of Booking.com's position in the German price parity case.
- Court found hotels have not provided evidence that parity clauses restricted competition.
- Court raised concerns about narrow market definition, requiring consideration of substitutability of other sales channels.
- Booking.com has not used parity clauses in Germany since 2016.
- Ruling limited to legal questions; damages require further proof.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Booking.com
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 4 Mar 2026, 21:07
- Page published
- 10 Sept 2026, 00:24
- Last updated
- 4 Mar 2026, 21:07
- Original links
- Booking.com Newsroom：Court Upholds Booking.com’s Position in Price Parity Case (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 4 Mar 2026, 21:07