Live from Brussels | Newsletter | February 2026
As we begin 2026, European hospitality is firmly back on the policy agenda in Brussels. From European Tourism Day and the upcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, to new EU files shaping the digital and social framework for our businesses, the months ahead will be decisive for hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés across Europe.
In this edition, we are pleased to feature an exclusive interview with Kostas Koumis, Deputy Minister for Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, as the country holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU. He shares his vision for a resilient and competitive tourism ecosystem, the role of the forthcoming Sustainable Tourism Strategy, and the urgent need to tackle labour and skills shortages while keeping the realities of small businesses front and centre.
In Brussels, HOTREC took part in European Commission’s European Tourism Day, where our President Alexandros Vassilikos underlined a simple message: hospitality must be placed at the heart of Europe’s tourism future. People, skills, fair digital markets and SME-friendly sustainability measures are not side issues, they are the foundations of a competitive sector.
In line with our long-standing efforts to ensure fairness online, at the end of January, the collective action seeking compensation for hotels harmed by Booking .com’s unlawful parity clauses was formally filed before the Amsterdam District Court. HOTREC supports this legal action together with 30 national hotel associations across Europe, aiming to address past harm and restore a level playing field for hotels, while we continue to engage constructively with platforms and policymakers on future-proof digital rules.
Sustainability remains equally central to our work. Through our new partnership with Close the Glass Loop, we are supporting hospitality businesses with practical tools to improve glass collection and recycling. As Marie Audren notes, effective separation at source is a simple step that can make a real difference for Europe’s circular economy.
On the policy front, we present our new position paper on addressing skills and labour shortages, with concrete solutions to make hospitality careers more attractive and future-proof. We outline HOTREC’s views on the Digital Fairness Act and the need to combine consumer trust with workable rules, including on dynamic pricing.
At the same time, we are closely following negotiations on the digital euro, where acceptance costs and a fair compensation model will be decisive to ensure that hospitality SMEs are not burdened with additional payment fees. HOTREC is also concerned by the Platform-to-Business Regulation being targeted for repeal under the Commission’s Digital Omnibus proposal, as this framework remains the only EU safeguard ensuring transparency and fair treatment for hospitality businesses dealing with powerful online platforms.
Finally, we analyse the Commission’s Quality Jobs Roadmap and ongoing social partner consultations, where enforcement of existing legislation, rather than additional red tape, must remain the priority. Last but not least, we report on a significant ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU, strengthening hotels’ position on copyright royalties and supporting fairer, occupancy-based tariff systems. A timely reminder that legal clarity can directly improve day-to-day business realities.
Enjoy the read,
The HOTREC team