Rate parity is the requirement that a hotel offers the same price for the same room on all distribution channels — booking portals as well as its own website. For years it was enforced through "best price clauses" in OTA contracts. These clauses are now largely prohibited in the DACH region — hotels may be cheaper on their own website than on the portals.
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| Germany | Narrow and wide best-price clauses of the major portals prohibited under competition law (Federal Cartel Office, confirmed by the Federal Court of Justice in 2021). Hotels may offer cheaper rates directly. |
| Austria | Best-price clauses banned by law since 2017. |
| Switzerland | Price-parity clauses of booking platforms towards accommodation businesses banned by law since late 2022 ("Lex Booking"). |
| EU-wide | The Digital Markets Act classifies large platforms as gatekeepers and prohibits parity requirements; additional national bans exist in France, Italy and Belgium, among others. |
As of mid-2026, without guarantee — not legal advice. Check current contract terms and seek legal counsel for individual cases.
Portals sometimes lower the displayed price at their own margin ("price matching"/sponsored discounts). That is their business decision — it usually cannot be contractually prohibited, but an attractive direct offer plus your own guest loyalty counteracts it.
No. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland you may set your prices freely per channel — in particular, be cheaper on your own website. A comprehensible price architecture is still advisable.
Channel pricing strategy is part of revenue management: the optimal mix of portal reach and commission-free direct bookings maximises profit, not just revenue.