Industry News: The B&B Association’s Class Action against Booking.com
Considerations for UK accommodation providers
The Bed and Breakfast Association – the UK trade association for B&Bs and guesthouses – has had a longstanding involvement in campaigning against harmful anti-competitive practices affecting UK accommodation providers. The B&B Association’s view is that Booking’s practices have, for many years, stifled price competition in the online booking market, to the detriment of all UK accommodation providers, including in particular small, independent B&Bs and hotels. This led to the B&B Association making five formal complaints to the CMA in relation to those practices, including on ‘price parity’ matters, in 2017.
The B&B Association’s claim against Booking
On 14 August 2025, the B&B Association confirmed that it recently secured litigation funding in respect of proposed opt-out collective proceedings against Booking on behalf of all UK-based accommodation providers, including hotels and B&Bs of all sizes, who used Booking’s services between 2019 and 2024 (the “Represented Class”). In broad summary, the B&B Association’s claim, which will shortly be filed with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, concerns Booking’s ‘price parity’ policies, which prevent accommodation providers from charging lower room prices on other platforms. These policies protect Booking from competition, allowing it to set its commissions at anti competitive levels.
As the claim will be brought on ‘opt-out’ basis, during the proceedings there will be no need for any participation by any members of the Represented Class. Furthermore, as the claim is being pursued on a no-win no fee basis, unless a successful outcome is achieved, the Represented Class will not be required to make any contribution towards the costs of the proceedings.
The B&B Association has instructed an experienced team of solicitors, barristers and economists in support of its proposed collective proceedings against Booking, who it anticipates will ensure that the Represented Class receive the redress they deserve. The case team comprises Stephenson Harwood, Robert Palmer KC, Alan Bates, and Hugh Whelan of Monckton Chambers, and economic consultancy Fideres.
The Stephenson Harwood team, led by Genevieve Quierin, Ben Sigler and Tim Knight, said: “We are grateful that the B&B Association has instructed Stephenson Harwood on this important matter, and we look forward to working with the Association to secure compensation for all UK accommodation providers who have been affected by Booking.com’s conduct.”
David Weston, Chairman of the Bed & Breakfast Association says: “We’re keen to keep STA members updated about our recently announced “Class Action” against Booking.com, which we hope will bring financial benefit to all accommodation providers who sold through Booking between 2019 and 2024.“
