Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🏨 The AHLA praised the Senate on September 2024 for passing tax provisions vital for the hospitality sector. These include making Small Business Deduction (Section 199A) permanent, benefiting small hotel owners. It also involves securing 100% bonus depreciation and expanded business interest deductibility to encourage investment and job creation. Additionally, the preservation of Like-Kind Exchange (Section 1031) remains crucial for ongoing real estate investment and economic activity.

🌿 In the late 90s, Penny and Armin Rembe saved a farm near Albuquerque, New Mexico, from becoming a subdivision. They purchased it with family funds and began focusing on biodynamic and organic farming, ultimately planting lavender. After seven years of securing permits, they opened a five-room bed and breakfast, which ran at a loss for five years. Their son Matt left NYC to join the venture, expanding the family's vision of agritourism.

🏨 HOTREC, representing 47 associations across 36 countries, highlights key facts: The European hospitality sector includes 2 million businesses and 10 million jobs, with 90% as micro-enterprises. Tourism contributes 10% to the EU GDP. Current challenges include high EU inflation, rising food and energy costs, geopolitical tensions near Ukraine, and ongoing skill and labor shortages. HOTREC supports the Competitiveness Compass, EU Single Market Strategy, and Union of Skills initiatives to boost the sector’s resilience and competitiveness.

📊 HOTREC, representing 47 associations in 36 countries, highlights key facts: Europe’s hospitality sector comprises 2 million businesses supporting over 10 million jobs, mostly SMEs and micro-enterprises. The sector contributes 10% to the EU's GDP. Despite resilience, challenges include high EU inflation, rising food and energy costs, and geopolitical instability, particularly near Ukraine. Post-pandemic, skill and labor shortages persist. HOTREC supports the EU's Competitiveness Compass and Single Market Strategy, emphasizing subcontracting flexibility without EU-level legislation.

💸 Hyatt Hotels Corporation, on June 17, 2025, agreed to sell Playa’s real estate portfolio to Tortuga Resorts for $2 billion, with a potential $143 million earnout. The portfolio includes 15 resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Hyatt retains $200 million preferred equity and will manage 13 properties for 50 years. Net purchase price of Playa’s management business is $555 million. Hyatt aims for $60-$65 million Adjusted EBITDA in 2027. Transaction completion by 2025 end.

💸 Airbnb hosts face new challenges as the platform updates its payment terms. Guests can now reserve without upfront payment and cancel 72 hours prior, leaving hosts uncompensated. Post-checkout, guests can dispute charges while Airbnb retains service fees. Payment delays occur at Airbnb’s discretion, affecting cash flow. This shift increases hosts' risk, prompting calls for direct bookings and independent payment methods. Critics argue it’s digital feudalism, prioritizing Airbnb's profits over hosts' autonomy. #DigitalSharecropping #PlatformExploitation

🗺 Spain's crackdown on illegal short-term tourist rentals led Booking.com to remove 4,093 ads, under 2% of its 200,000 Spanish listings. The Canary Islands were notably affected. Spain also pressures Airbnb to eliminate 65,000 unlicensed ads. In 2024, 94 million foreign tourists increased housing pressure. Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy targets speculative models harming communities.

📃 European Parliament's IMCO Committee report on Package Travel Directive revision noted by HOTREC. Adopted today, the report allows Member States to decide on prepayment limitations; HOTREC opposes this, aligning with Council's December 2024 and TRAN Committee’s April 2025 opinions. Concerns over 24-hour package definition and broad cancellation rights were highlighted. HOTREC seeks a balanced revision to protect consumer rights while supporting European hospitality growth.