Live from Brussels | Newsletter | April 2026
Dear readers,
As we enter a busy spring period, Europe’s hospitality sector continues to navigate a complex operating environment marked by sustained cost pressures and evolving consumer behaviour. A significant majority of businesses report rising costs, particularly driven by energy prices and broader inflationary trends.
Recent geopolitical developments, including instability in the Middle East, have further increased volatility in energy markets, adding pressure to already tight operating margins. While demand is recovering, profitability remains constrained, reinforcing the need for a stable, supportive and predictable policy framework.
This edition comes at an important moment for HOTREC, as we prepare for our 92nd General Assembly in Cork from 20 to 22 April. The conference will bring together members from across Europe to exchange views and set priorities for the months ahead, including in the context of the upcoming Irish EU Presidency.
A key highlight is our recent event at the European Parliament on the Digital euro, where we underlined that any future payment system must remain simple, competitive and economically sustainable for hospitality SMEs. We also report from Alimentaria in Barcelona, highlighting the essential role of associations in representing the sector in an increasingly competitive EU policy landscape.
We also cover recent developments in EU tourism policy, with calls for stronger coordination and support for a competitive and sustainable tourism ecosystem, timely in light of this week’s informal meeting of Tourism Ministers.
On sustainability, we look at EU discussions on energy price volatility and the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, both of which will have direct operational implications for hospitality businesses. We also highlight the PEFCR for hotel accommodation, moving towards a harmonised framework for measuring environmental performance.
We further provide an update on the Commission’s work on the Affordable Housing Act, where HOTREC continues to advocate for a level playing field between short-term rentals and traditional accommodation. In social affairs, we look at ongoing initiatives on skills portability and vocational education and training, key tools to address persistent labour shortages across the sector.
We hope this edition provides useful insights for your work in the months ahead.
Enjoy the read,
The HOTREC team