Pasyxe says lawsuit aims to fix years of unfair practices

The Cyprus hoteliers association (Pasyxe) on Friday announced its support for a collective legal action against Booking.com.

The legal action has been brought before the Dutch courts through an alliance of more than 25 national hotel associations across Europe.

In an official statement, Pasyxe confirmed it stands by the decisions made by its counterparts via HOTREC, the European umbrella organisation for hospitality stakeholders.

Pasyxe said it will offer guidance and support to any of its members who choose to join the joint action.

Through this initiative, HOTREC is backing claims for compensation related to practices deemed to be in violation of European competition law.

Specifically, the lawsuit seeks to secure compensation for losses suffered by hospitality businesses between 2004 and 2024.

Pasyxe stated that the case has been assigned to a respected legal team with extensive experience in complex cross-border competition and collective claims.

The legal action is based on a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), issued on September 19, 2024.

The court found that Booking.com’s parity clauses, which prevented hotels from offering lower prices or better terms through alternative distribution channels, including their own websites, directly violated EU competition rules.

These practices distorted the market, increased commission fees, and limited the scope for direct bookings, according to the ruling.

“The participation of Cypriot hospitality businesses in this collective action represents an important opportunity to remedy years of unbalanced commercial practices,” said Pasyxe director general Christos Angelides.

He added that it also “contributes to the creation of a fairer and more balanced digital environment for tourism enterprises across Europe”.

Moreover, Pasyxe called on all hotel businesses in Cyprus that wish to participate in the claim to register their interest via the dedicated platform www.mybookingclaim.com.

The deadline for registration is July 31, 2025, the association concluded.