Organisation
General Assembly
The General Assembly is HOTREC’s highest decision-making body and brings together the representatives of all members associations. It is notably responsible for:
- Approving applications for membership and observer status;
- Electing the HOTREC President and other members of the Executive Committee;
- Approving the annual accounts and determining the budget;
- Amending the statutes and the bye-laws of the association;
- Adopting HOTREC position papers.
The General Assembly generally takes decisions by consensus.
The General Assembly usually meets twice per year.
The member associations take turns in hosting the General Assembly according to a rotating schedule. In addition, the Executive Committee chaired by the President, has the authority to take decisions on relevant issues. The day-to-day management of HOTREC Secretariat and its activities are overseen by the Director General. Moreover, HOTREC’s Working Groups and Committees play an important role in the organisation. Each Task Force and Committee is in charge of one specific policy area and gathers the expertise of several representatives of HOTREC’s members.
The Executive Committee consists of eleven members, which have been elected by the General Assembly for two years.
The Executive Committee is chaired by the President. The Executive Committee was elected in October 2022 for the 2023-2025 term.
The Director General prepares and attends the Executive Committee’s meetings.
Members of HOTREC’s Executive Committee:
- Alexandros Vassilikos – President – Greece
- Morten Thorvaldsen – Vice-President – Norway
- Adrian Cummins – Treasurer – Ireland
- Alexandre Archier – Member – France
- Dirk Beljaarts – Member – The Netherlands
- Alessandro Cavaliere – Member – Italy
- Ramón Estalella Halffter – Member – Spain
- Elisabeth Haglund – Member – Sweden
- Markus Luthe – Member – Germany
- Maria Schreiner – Member – Austria
- Ludo Geurden – Member – Belgium
- Joan Gaspart – Observer – Spain
The Brussels-based Secretariat, is in charge of the day-to-day management of the association and its activities.
The Secretariat works in close liaison with the President and the Executive Committee, as well as member associations. It is led by the Director General.
- Day-to-day management of the association
- Develop and manage public affairs strategies
- HOTREC spokesperson before EU media
- Coordinate and manage strategic alliances
- Representation of HOTREC before EU institutions, stakeholders and external conferences
- Foster knowledge and best practice sharing amongst team and members
- EU Policy Lobbying Strategy planning in close collaboration with President and Executive Committee
- Human resources planning and evaluation
- Tourism
- Sustainability
- Social Affairs
- Visa policy
- Data protection
- Other areas: EU Funding, organisation of Sectorial Social Dialogue Committee, Restaurant, bar, cafés and late-night entertainment Working Group, Sustainability Working Group and other ad hoc meetings
- Alcohol
- Circularity
- Consumer policies
- Food safety
- Food waste
- Sustainability
- Accessibility
- Collaborative economy
- Digital issues
- Hotel classification (Hotelstars Union)
- Quality
- Standardisation
- Statistics
- Taxation
- Other areas: organisation of Distribution Working Group, Short-Term Rental Working Group
- Internal communications
- External communications
- Social media management
- Website management
- Graphic design & publications
- Events management
- IT & databases coordination
- Supports the DG in her day to day administrative, financial, membership and management tasks
- Monitor and manage accounts; link with authorities and administrations
- Optimise external services’ contracts
- Membership coordination and development
- Support Team Members advocacy campaigns and participation in EU projects
- Coordination General Assemblies in close liaison with HOTREC Members