trivago Files Antitrust Damages Claim Against Google in Germany Over Hotel Search Self-Preferencing

trivago filed an antitrust damages claim against Google in the Regional Court of Hamburg on May 5, 2026, seeking compensation for over a decade of alleged self-preferencing in the hotel metasearch market. The claim, based on Article 102 TFEU and German competition law, covers January 2014 through December 2025 and seeks substantial monetary damages, disclosure of traffic/revenue data, and a declaratory judgment on Google's liability from January 2026 onward. trivago CEO Johannes Thomas stated Google has 'systematically steered millions of travelers away from hotel metasearch platforms like trivago.' The claim builds on the EU's 2017 Google Shopping decision and the Digital Markets Act. trivago incurred €0.6 million in litigation expenses in Q1 2026.