Regulatory and Legal Affairs

✈️ GBTA applauds the EU air passenger rights reform agreement reached in Brussels, Belgium, enhancing clarity for travellers and businesses. Airlines must now inform passengers of compensation rights for cancellations or delays. Compensation ranges between €250 and €600 for delays over three hours. GBTA urges clear implementation by EU Member States to boost traveller confidence. This agreement is part of broader efforts to modernize passenger rights in Europe, aiming for a more integrated and traveller-focused system.

💵 Bristol Hoteliers Association supports Tom Kerridge’s ‘VAT’s the Problem’ campaign for a 10% VAT rate in the hospitality industry. The campaign gathered over 100,000 signatures in 72 hours. In 2026, Bristol saw a 3% increase in hotel occupancy, but rising costs (3%-13%) keep profits flat. Upcoming events like Bristol Pride and the Harbour Festival offer optimism. A VAT reduction could boost sales and aid economic recovery, echoing previous calls for lower tax rates since 2022.

💸 Bristol Hoteliers Association supports Tom Kerridge's '#VATsTheProblem' campaign for a 10% VAT rate to protect hospitality profits. The campaign gained over 100,000 signatures in 72 hours. Despite a 3% increase in hotel occupancy, rising costs (3-13%) keep profits flat. Summer 2026 looks promising with events like international cricket, Bristol Pride, and Balloon Fiesta. BHA advocates for VAT reduction, a longstanding industry demand, to boost sales and sustain the local economy.

🚨 The UK government collaborates with UKHospitality to enhance safety for women and girls, focusing on preventing violence and sharing best practices. A roundtable at 11 Downing Street discussed improving guest safety protocols. 5.1 million experienced abuse or assault by March 2025. The government allocated £550m for victim support over three years, aiming to halve violence against women in a decade. The UK's hospitality sector contributed £64.3bn to the economy in 2024, employing 1.3 million people.

🛫 In the UK, bed taxes, VAT, Business Rates, and National Insurance spotlight government impact on hotels. In the US, the GBTA urges banning in-flight mobile calls, citing "productive travel" benefits and reduced passenger conflict. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten supports legislation for in-flight voice call regulations. In the UK, sectors push for VAT cuts; Andy Burnham is seen as a potential ally. Minister Stephanie Peacock emphasizes tourism's economic importance, discussing topics like the Commonwealth Games and the Tour de France.

🛠 Jun 15, 2026, Europe: Over a decade, countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium banned Booking.com's parity clauses; by May 2024, the EU prohibited them under the Digital Markets Act. Despite the bans, hotel pricing largely stayed the same. Studies found shifts in hidden channels, not visible web rates. Booking's ranking system now enforces price parity, subtly replacing the clause. No European regulator has yet challenged this ranking influence as effectively as written contract terms.