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HOTREC presents its policy recommendations for the new EU mandate: make hospitality the cornerstone of sustainable tourism development in Europe

Tuesday, 12 November 2019
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HOTREC presents its policy recommendations for the new EU mandate: make hospitality the cornerstone of sustainable tourism development in Europe

 

 

Brussels, 12 November 2019. Today, HOTREC unveiled at the European Parliament its White Paper for Hospitality in Europe, recommending to the EU institutions 5 key priorities for the period 2019-2024. Hosted by MEP Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Vice President of SME Europe, the event counted with the participation of Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Vice-President of the European Parliament Dita Charanzová, MEP Istvan Ujhelyi and various other EU officials. HOTREC called upon a continued partnership with the European Institutions to deliver on its vision for an innovative and sustainable tourism sector.

“The hospitality industry plays an important role in the global success of European tourism. We look forward to continue working together with our partners in HOTREC to address the challenges facing European tourism and ensure its sustainable and balanced development in the future” commented Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska.

 “With 11,9 million workers and 1,6 million new jobs created in 4 years, the hospitality industry is a driving force for the EU economy. Our White Paper proposes recommendations to EU policy-makers to foster the industry’s jobs, growth and innovation potential and make the hospitality sector the cornerstone of sustainable tourism development in Europe” said Mr. Jens Zimmer Christensen, President of HOTREC.

“Tourism is a major sector in Europe and the travel and tourism sector is one of our major job creators. Tourism also creates a sense of a common European identity and promotes a mutual understanding within the EU. That is why I am committed to keep working for the development of a sustainable and innovative tourism sector and I am looking forward to renew my partnership with HOTREC”, said MEP Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, host of the event.  

HOTREC’s White Paper sets out the following 5 key priorities for the next EU legislative mandate:

  • Further levelling the playing field in the accommodation and food service market in light of the fast professionalisation of providers using ‘collaborative’ economy platforms.
  • Revise the EU regulatory framework regulating online platforms’ liability to reflect their increased role on the markets, namely the E-commerce directive.
  • A Better Regulation agenda which ensures that the EU focuses primarily on large cross-border issues and better takes into account sectoral specific concerns.
  • Foster voluntary initiatives on nutrition for local food services instead of horizontal EU legislation.
  • Make the fight against skills shortage a truly EU case supported by concrete policy actions.

For further information: www.hotrec.eu

PRESS CONTACT: Alessia Angiulli, +32 (0)2 504 78 45, [email protected]

 

HOTREC represents the hotel, restaurant and café industry at European level. The sector counts in total around 2 million businesses, being 99,5% small and medium sized enterprises (91% are micro enterprises, i.e. employing less than 10 people). These businesses make up some 60% of value added. The industry provides some 11.9 million jobs in the EU alone. Together with the other tourism industries, the sector is the 3rd largest industry in Europe. HOTREC brings together 44 national associations representing the interest of this industry in 32 different European countries in 2019.