French Ministry Issues Injunction Against Booking.com for Contractual Practices
Paris, France – The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) of the French Ministry of the Economy has issued an injunction targeting the contractual terms and practices employed by the online accommodation platform Booking.com in its agreements with French hoteliers. The announcement, published on the economie.gouv.fr website on July 10, 2025, signals a significant intervention by French authorities to ensure fair competition and protect the interests of the French hospitality sector.
The injunction, titled “Injonction de mise en conformité des clauses et pratiques dans les contrats entre hôteliers français et la plateforme Booking.com,” indicates that the DGCCRF has identified specific clauses and practices within Booking.com’s standard contracts with French hotel establishments that are deemed to be in violation of French competition and consumer protection laws.
While the precise details of the problematic clauses and practices are not explicitly enumerated in the initial announcement, such injunctions typically address areas where platforms may exert undue influence or impose unfair conditions on their business partners. This could include, but is not limited to:
- Price Parity Clauses: These clauses often require hotels to offer the same or better prices on the platform as they do on their own websites or other booking channels. While intended to ensure a consistent customer experience, they can limit a hotel’s ability to offer competitive rates or promotions directly to consumers.
- Ranking and Visibility Practices: Concerns may arise regarding how Booking.com ranks hotels on its platform and whether certain practices unfairly disadvantage smaller or independent establishments.
- Commissions and Fees: The structure of commissions and additional fees charged by Booking.com to hoteliers could also be under scrutiny if found to be disproportionate or non-transparent.
- Data Usage and Ownership: How Booking.com utilizes data collected from its interactions with hotels and consumers might also be a point of contention.
- Contractual Flexibility: The extent to which hotels can negotiate or modify the terms of their contracts with the platform is another area that regulators often examine.
The DGCCRF’s action signifies a proactive stance by French authorities to ensure a level playing field within the digital economy, particularly for a vital sector like the hotel industry. The injunction mandates that Booking.com must amend its contractual terms and associated practices to comply with French legal frameworks. This implies that the platform will need to review and revise its agreements with all French hoteliers to align with the DGCCRF’s directives.
This development is likely to be welcomed by many independent hoteliers across France who may have felt disadvantaged by the platform’s dominant position and the stringent nature of their contractual obligations. It underscores the ongoing efforts by national regulatory bodies to adapt and enforce competition laws in the face of evolving digital business models.
Hoteliers working with Booking.com in France are advised to closely monitor future communications from the DGCCRF and Booking.com regarding the specific changes that will be implemented. The Ministry’s intervention highlights the importance of fair and transparent contractual relationships between online platforms and their service providers, ultimately aiming to foster a healthier and more competitive market for both businesses and consumers.
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economie.gouv.fr published ‘Injonction de mise en conformité des clauses et pratiques dans les contrats entre hôteliers français et la plateforme Booking.com’ at 2025-07-10 09:11. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.