CEHAT taps CCS Abogados for claims against Booking
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) has chosen CCS Abogados, one of Spain’s leading law firms in defending businesses against anticompetitive practices, to handle claims against Booking for its controversial parity clauses. This decision reinforces CCS’s reputation, bolstered by its successful management of claims for 5,500 member companies of the Spanish Confederation of Freight Transport (CETM) in the landmark “truck cartel” case, one of the largest antitrust violations sanctioned by the European Commission.
The case against Booking follows a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which declared that the parity clauses in Booking’s contracts with hotels and tourist accommodation providers violate competition law. These clauses prevented hotels from offering lower prices on their own websites or through other online travel agencies, effectively stifling competition. Economic studies indicate that without these clauses, increased competition would have resulted in significantly lower commission rates charged by Booking. The ruling is further bolstered by a recent penalty issued by Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC).
To strengthen its approach, CCS Abogados will collaborate with SGP Schneider Geiwitz, a German law firm led by Volker Soyez, which has been litigating successfully against Booking since 2013. Notably, SGP secured a favorable CJEU ruling on September 19, 2024, in a case brought on behalf of the German Hotel Association and 2,000 hotel businesses. Claims in Spain will be coordinated with the broader European effort led by HOTREC, the European association representing the hospitality industry.
Jaime Concheiro, Managing Partner of CCS, highlighted the importance of this collaboration. This case signals a pivotal moment for Spain’s hospitality sector, as it aligns with European efforts to challenge anticompetitive practices and reclaim substantial financial damages for affected companies.
