Dear readers,
Welcome to our latest newsletter, moments away from the heavily anticipated EU elections. And what crucial elections these will be, not only for the future of the EU, but also for the tourism and hospitality sector. Newly elected MEPs will assume their roles in their respective Committees and shape legislation for years to come. Steering policy in the right direction will be no easy feat in these challenging times. We at HOTREC are hopeful that democracy, tolerance, and security will prevail.
The past two months have been eventful. We hosted our 88th General Assembly in Budapest, organised the 1st Tourism Forum on Climate Change in Rhodes, and celebrated 5 years of EU tourism policy at the European Parliament.
Special thanks to Manuela Geleng (Director of Jobs and Skills, DG EMPL, European Commission) for her insightful interview on the pressing issue of labour shortages and skill gaps in the EU.
This edition will also cover EU policy updates and recent developments affecting tourism and hospitality including (1) Online Reviews (2) DMA & Booking.com (3) VAT for Short-Term Rentals (4) Package Travel Directive (5) European Year of Skills.
Enjoy the news and remember to vote!
