Booking Holdings and Expedia Group control 85% of Europe's online travel agency market, according to new findings from HOTREC, the European hospitality association representing hotels, restaurants and cafes across the continent.

The figure gives European hoteliers and policymakers the clearest quantitative picture yet of how concentrated online distribution has become. HOTREC, which has long campaigned on OTA market power, released the finding as part of its ongoing push for fairer treatment of accommodation providers in their dealings with the dominant platforms.

What does the 85% share mean for hoteliers?

For independent hotels and small European chains, the duopoly translates into limited negotiating leverage on commission rates and contractual terms. When two groups control the bulk of online bookings through brands such as Booking.com, Expedia and Hotels.com, operators face a stark choice: accept the platforms' terms or lose visibility with the majority of online bookers.

HOTREC's position has consistently been that this concentration undermines the bargaining position of accommodation providers, particularly smaller properties that depend on OTAs for international demand. The 85% figure provides the evidence base for that argument.

Why is HOTREC measuring this now?

The association's finding lands as European regulators intensify scrutiny of digital gatekeepers. The EU's Digital Markets Act now imposes conduct rules on large online platforms, and HOTREC has argued that dominant OTAs should face equivalent obligations toward their business users.

The data also feeds into the broader European debate over platform-to-business relations, where the EU's P2B Regulation already requires transparency in ranking and terms. HOTREC contends that a market where two players hold 85% leaves regulation as the only effective counterweight.

What happens next?

HOTREC is expected to use the 85% finding in its advocacy with the European Commission and national governments, pressing for enforcement of existing platform rules and tighter oversight of OTA practices. Hoteliers should watch for further HOTREC publications and any Commission response as the DMA regime matures.