Booking.com: rate parity clauses changed at the European level

The online hotel booking agency announced its commitment to make its rate parity clauses more flexible would be applied to the whole of Europe. And this starting from July 1, 2015 as planned in France, Italy and Sweden.

After committing to the European Commission and the competition authorities of the French, Italian and Swedish to modify its rate parity clauses, Booking.com decided to adopt the same behavior with all its European partners. The measure will take effect from July 1, 2015, as it was already planned in France, Italy and Sweden.

"Booking.com announced it will amend its parity terms with all accommodations partners in Europe by 1 July 2015", announced the online hotel booking agency in a press release this morning.

As a reminder, Booking.com pledged to change the rate parity clause and remove any clause imposing parity obligations in terms of availability of rooms or business conditions not only against competing platforms but also hotels' offline direct channels and part of their online channels. All European hotels will then be able to charge lower prices and better trading conditions on competing platforms and offer cheaper rates via their offline sales channels. They can also hold for their direct sales channel (online or offline) a number of nights greater than the number of nights allocated to Booking.com.