Live from Brussels – Issue 116
Dear readers, 
The summer season is finally here, and European hospitality is bracing to welcome guests from all over the world. According to recent data from the ETC, European travel kept regaining momentum during the second part of 2023. While rejoicing in the prospect of the economic opportunities Summer will bring, we must remember how this intense period will also enhance existing challenges – for instance, staff shortages, economic hardship and managing tourist flows.
To help the sector face these challenges, HOTREC will continue its constant dialogues and exchanges with the EU Institutions. We look forward to collaborating with the newly established Spanish Presidency of the EU Council to prioritise and support European tourism and hospitality, to strengthen its competitiveness and sustainable transition. You can read here our interview with the Spanish State Secretary for Tourism, Rosana Morillo, whom we thank for her precious contribution to this newsletter.
When mentioning our ongoing dialogue with the Institutions, we are also happy to share that, on 22 June, we had the pleasure to participate in the launch meeting of the Together for EU Tourism (T4T) Expert Group, set to prepare policy initiatives resulting from the Tourism Transition Pathway.
In other news, this is a busy period for HOTREC. Last week, Booking.com declared that the company does not yet meet the criteria to qualify as a gatekeeper according to the Digital Markets Act. This is bad news for hotels in Europe, considering the law’s essential role in helping hotels address the unfair behaviour of online travel agents. More on this here.
Before the summer recess, we expect the European Parliament’s TRAN (Tourism and Transport) and ITER (Industry, Research and Energy) Committees to vote respectively on Short-Term Rentals and the EU Proposal for Packaging and Packaging Waste, two important files for hospitality businesses. We are also pleased to share with you our position on the Green Claims proposal ahead of the discussions in Parliament and Council.
Wishing you all a fantastic summer!
Stay tuned and enjoy your reading.
