HOTREC European Hospitality - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

1 min

New Study Highlights EU-US Labour Productivity Gap 2019-2024

📊 The European Employers’ Institute released a study on December 2, 2025, examining the EU–US labour productivity gap from 2019–2024. EU productivity in 2024 averaged $72/hour (PPP) versus $116/hour in the US, marking a 38% gap. The gap widened due to a 9.7% US productivity increase compared to the EU's 2.4%. Key drivers include pandemic labour-market responses, the US digital and AI boom, and EU industrial competitiveness challenges.

1 min

Calling for simplification and enforcement of the social acquis

📝 HOTREC, Ceemet, the European Banking Federation, and WEC-Europe urge the EU to simplify and enforce the social acquis. One year after the European Commission's agenda to simplify rules, the social acquis now includes 70+ legal acts, creating complexity for SMEs, particularly in hospitality. They emphasize simplification should be ongoing and not deregulation, and stress enforcing existing rules over creating new ones. HOTREC aims to boost competitiveness and employment in Europe.

3 min

Interview with MEP Niels Flemming Hansen

📈 MEP Niels Flemming Hansen, from Denmark and member of the EPP Group, highlights the crucial role of SMEs in Europe's hospitality sector. He emphasizes simplifying EU rules and reducing red tape to aid SME success. Key challenges include skill shortages and rising costs, calling for digital “one-stop-shops” for compliance. Looking towards 2026, he advocates for digitalization and sustainability as business opportunities, encouraging use of EU funding for green investments to maintain competitiveness and job creation in the sector.

2 min

New Study – Impact of Taxation on Hospitality Sector

💰 HOTREC's 2025 study warns that a 1-point VAT increase could result in €8 billion sales losses and over 100,000 job cuts in the EU, Iceland, Norway, and the UK. Standard VAT rates may lead to 1 million job losses and a 0.5% GDP drop. Amsterdam could see hotel taxes top 33% by 2026. HOTREC urges against sharp tax hikes, advocating for coordinated policies to protect SMEs and rural economies.

2 min

Reducing Multi-Hazard Risks in Tourism

📈 Europe faces increasing tourism disruptions due to climate extremes like floods and heatwaves. The Horizon MYRIAD-EU project, notably supported by HOTREC, promotes a multi-risk resilience framework, aligning with the EU Green Deal. Key strategies include mapping interdependencies across sectors and adopting dynamic scenario-based modelling. Policy recommendations urge integrating MYRIAD-EU’s framework into tourism planning and enhancing public-private cooperation with incentives. A call to action emphasizes proactive, customized crisis management to safeguard tourism ecosystems.

2 min

New Study Highlights EU-US Labour Productivity Gap

📈 The European Employers’ Institute released a study on the EU–US labor productivity gap from 1995 to 2019. Core EU economies like Germany, France, Italy, and Spain drive the gap due to underinvestment in innovation and digitalization. Newer EU members show faster productivity but can't offset larger economies. The gap, widest in ICT, grew after 2019. The EU must boost innovation and digitalization to remain competitive, as emphasized in the Draghi and Letta reports.

2 min

New Study Highlights EU-US Labour Productivity Gap 1995-2019

The European Employers’ Institute (EEI) has released its second study on the EU–US labour productivity gap, conducted by Rexecode (France), offering a detailed country- and sector-level analysis over the 1995–2019…

1 min

European Tourism Industry Coalition on the Revision of the Package Travel Directive

🖼 HOTREC and partners in the European Tourism Industry Coalition issued a letter on October 29, 2025, addressing EU institutions. The letter outlines key recommendations for the revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD). Key priorities include deleting the 24-hour package definition, removing rigid prepayment limitations, avoiding overlapping complaint mechanisms, and supporting risk-based insolvency protection. They urge for legal clarity, proportionality, and harmonization to safeguard consumers and maintain the tourism sector's competitiveness.

1 min

Position of the European Tourism Industry Coalition on the Revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD)

🌎 On October 29, 2025, HOTREC and the European Tourism Industry Coalition addressed EU institutions regarding the Package Travel Directive. The coalition stresses a balanced regulatory framework, emphasizing consumer protection and industry competitiveness. Key points include opposition to a 24-hour package definition, removal of prepayment limits, and clearer "force majeure" criteria. They advocate for legal clarity and harmonization in the final directive. For detailed recommendations, view the full joint letter.

2 min

Hospitality Leaders Gather in Cyprus for HOTREC’s 91st General Assembly

📌 Hospitality leaders met in Paphos, Cyprus, for HOTREC's 91st General Assembly. The event highlights ongoing issues in Europe's 2 million hospitality businesses, including labor shortages, rising costs, and geopolitical challenges. Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus, emphasized the EU tourism agenda ahead of Cyprus's 2026 EU Council Presidency. HOTREC leaders stress the need for EU-wide solutions. The 92nd Assembly will occur in Cork, Ireland, in April 2026.

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