Regulatory and Legal Affairs

💰 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.

📈 Hotels face increased guest acquisition costs due to privacy restrictions and transparency standards as of November 24, 2025. Privacy rules hinder tracking, while rising media costs boost cost per acquisition. Regulations like third-party cookie loss demand strategic shifts towards first-party data, SEO, and compliance. The Cendyn report highlights that hotels must adapt to a more regulated marketing environment, focusing on direct engagement and channel consistency to maintain trust and manage costs effectively. Read Cendyn's full report for more insights.

💵 PPHE Hotel Group has refinanced its loan with Aareal Bank for Park Plaza London Riverbank, extending maturity from June 2026 to June 2030. The £95.8 million facility carries a fixed interest rate of 3.248% until June 2026; post-2026, 85% moves to a 5.72% fixed rate. The loan includes no amortization and maintains loan-to-value and debt service covenants. PPHE's portfolio is valued at £2.2 billion as of December 2024.

📈 Rosanna Maietta, CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, testified in Washington, D.C., highlighting the economic impact of hotels, which generate nearly $900 billion in GDP and $83 billion in tax revenue annually, supporting 1 in 25 U.S. jobs. She urged legislative action as the U.S. prepares for global events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Maietta presented four policy recommendations, including H-2B visa expansion and restoring Brand USA funding. Rising operating costs challenge the industry post-pandemic.

🏨 In Washington, D.C., Rosanna Maietta, CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee to highlight hotels' economic impact. Travel and tourism generate nearly $900 billion GDP and $83 billion in tax revenue, supporting 1 in 25 American jobs. Post-pandemic recovery remains challenging with rising costs. Maietta advocated for policy changes, including visa reforms, Brand USA funding, preventing a government shutdown, and supporting the American Franchise Act to bolster the industry.

📈 Major hotel brands Travelodge, Hilton, Accor, and Booking.com faced ASA rulings for misleading "from" price claims. Travelodge's Nottingham and Swansea ads misled due to limited date availability. Hilton's ads, claiming prices of £68 and £59 for Hampton by Hilton, lacked substantial availability data. Booking.com's EasyHotel Sheffield ad was misleading, with limited bookings at £28 in May 2025. Accor's Birmingham ad, at £27, failed due to limited date clarity, while Sheffield's ad was cleared with supporting data. ASA mandates future ad compliance.

💸 UK, April-May 2025: The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints against Accor, Booking.com, Hilton, and Travelodge for misleading 'from' prices. Ads overstated deals with limited room availability at the advertised rates. Accor was cited for £27 rooms at Ibis Budget Birmingham Centre. ASA's AI identified these ads, leading to their removal and future compliance orders. Companies acknowledged the issue, promising clearer pricing.

💵 About 40% of airline tickets bought online involve cross-currency transactions. Airlines could earn $1.74 billion more annually if they implemented Multi-Currency Pricing (MCP) on their websites. If all cross-currency transactions used MCP, revenue could reach $9.6 billion. Asia Pacific and EMEA regions hold the highest potential for FX services. Early adopter SriLankan Airlines has integrated MCP since 2021, making it a top ancillary product. Transparency in FX charges is advised for airlines.