Two law firms—Eskariam in Spain and Geradin Partners in Paris—are teaming up with hoteliers in France and Spain over what they call “excessive commissions” from Booking.com. Lawyer Marc Barennes announced the push, taking aim at the Dutch platform (a branch of the American Priceline Group) for practices many now argue are anti-competitive.
Legal Grounds for Action
A September 2024 ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union has shaken things up by scrapping Booking.com’s old “parity clauses.” These rules had forced hotels to stick with their best prices only on the site, cutting off any chance to offer more attractive deals elsewhere. Spanish and Italian competition authorities have also taken a hard look at the platform’s actions, adding weight to the claim that its practices are off the mark. Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Booking.com now falls under strict competition rules – meaning it can’t insist on hosting only the lowest prices. Generally speaking, this gives hotels the freedom to explore other channels without fearing retaliation, and lawyers are quick to note that the European Commission is keeping a close watch, so the platform isn’t likely to rock the boat against hotels seeking compensation.
Mobilizing Hoteliers
To spur collective action, the firms have set up a French website (actioncollectivehotel.fr) aimed at hoteliers who used Booking.com between 2015 and 2024. In a rather straightforward manner, the site invites these hotel operators to share data for damage assessments. It hints that independent hotels might recover anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of euros, while bigger chains could see compensation in the millions. Experts even point out that losses for French hoteliers may total around €1.5 billion. Adding another twist, a litigation financing company is on board to cover legal fees in return for a 25–30% cut of any awarded sum, ensuring that hotels won’t face upfront costs. There’s talk of taking the case to a French commercial court by the end of October—a sign of a push for swift, if not slightly unpredictable, justice.
Booking.com’s Dominance in the Market
Booking.com’s hold on Europe’s hotel scene is hard to miss. Data from hotel tech company D-Edge shows that only about 33% of online revenue for hotels in 2024 came from direct bookings, leaving platforms like Booking.com and Expedia to scoop up the rest. Meanwhile, Statista highlights that in France, Booking.com remains the top choice for booking hotels and tourist spots, even edging out competitors like Airbnb. Even though we don’t have exact figures for its market share among French hotels, industry insiders frequently mention its pervasive influence—almost as if it’s everywhere you look.
A Broader European Movement
There’s a buzz that this legal push might spread beyond France and Spain. Behind closed doors, discussions are underway with law firms in Italy, Portugal, and other countries to forge a united European front against Booking.com. This loosely coordinated approach could ramp up the pressure on the platform and, in most cases, encourage fairer practices across the online travel sector.
A Track Record in Collective Actions
Marc Barennes isn’t new to this kind of battle. He’s also leading a campaign against meal voucher issuers in France, who stand accused of anti-competitive behavior—a case that started in 2021 and has already roped in around 8,000 points of sale. Although delays in accessing old paper documents have caused some hiccups, Barennes, through his company Brandeis Fiducie, is aiming to file that claim by the end of the year. His ongoing efforts keep reminding everyone that he’s committed to fighting for fairness, even if the path isn’t perfectly straight.
A Turning Point for Hoteliers
Altogether, this campaign against Booking.com could mark a turning point, sparking change in a market long dominated by a few major players. It’s a bold push that, despite some bumps along the road and occasional inconsistencies in approach, might just reshape how hotels secure their fair share in the online booking landscape. European hoteliers are in for a shake-up—especially those small, independent operators fighting steep commissions and strict, often overwhelming terms. Riding on recent legal wins and a DMA that’s tightening its grip, law firms are now pushing for hefty payouts while nudging the booking game toward fairer ground; generally speaking, this feels like a bid to break up the old power hold of online travel platforms. As this drive gathers a bit more momentum, it might just flip the usual dynamics, giving hotel owners more say—and, in most cases, some much-needed financial breathing room.
The Booking CEO Earned over $126 Million in 2024
In fiscal 2024, Glenn Fogel at Booking Holdings ended up with roughly $126 million overall – a figure that pretty much puts him on top as the highest-paid head in online travel, according to the company’s recent annual report and proxy statement.
Breaking it down a bit, he got around $6 million in base salary and cash bonuses, about $25.8 million in long-term equity (with performance and restricted stock units thrown in), and a one-time bonus of roughly $13 million from an active stock program. Altogether, that direct pay comes to about $44.8 million. The rest of his total earnings? That comes from share packages granted in earlier years that matured in 2024 – valued at market price when they matured per U.S. rules for “actual compensation paid.” Generally speaking, these matured stock options and awards form most of what he takes home.
The pay structure itself shows that Booking Holdings really leans into long-term incentives; roughly 91% of his compensation was tied up in incentive systems, with about 61% directly tied to performance. In most cases, this mix is intended to align executive rewards with the company’s ongoing growth and profits – after all, Booking Holdings still leads the travel game.
All in all, Fogel’s sizable package is likely to stir up more debate amid the usual public scrutiny over executive pay, especially given the company’s strong stock market performance in recent years. There’s a persistent buzz about whether such numbers are justified, a topic that seems to come up time and again.