Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📌 Associations across airline, hospitality, and retail sectors are observing Alphabet's adjustments to Google Search for DMA compliance, which should not redirect to OSSs or diminish direct suppliers' organic visibility. Google's late stakeholder communication in 2023 left many unaware of the impending changes. Airlines for Europe (A4E) carried over 610 million passengers in 2022, with a fleet of 3,300 aircraft serving nearly 2,000 destinations. Ecommerce Europe acts for European online merchants. The European Hotel Forum represents over 6,000 European hoteliers. EuroCommerce speaks for 5 million companies in retail/wholesale, employing 26 million Europeans. HOTREC, the voice of European hospitality, represents 2 million businesses providing 10 million jobs. Independent Retail Europe covers 23 groups with 462,000 retailers, 737,000 outlets, and a retail turnover exceeding €1,385 billion, supporting 6.4 million jobs. Monitoring of Google's changes is expected to start on 6 March 2024.

📝 On 26 June 2024, HOTREC published a position paper stating their priorities on the European Commission’s proposed Directive on Traineeships and Council Recommendation on a reinforced Quality Framework for Traineeships (QFT). HOTREC calls for clearer rules, particularly for SMEs, arguing against unnecessary legislation in countries where trainee protections already exist through labor laws. They suggest that a revision of the existing QFT is preferable to a new Directive. HOTREC emphasizes the need to avoid creating a new category of worker, to reduce red tape, to respect definitions and collective bargaining agreements, and to consider remuneration flexibility.

🏖 On 18 July 2024, over 70 European tourism sector organisations launched the European Tourism Manifesto. HOTREC, actively involved in drafting, highlighted priorities for the legislative term: decarbonisation, smart EU funding, resilient connectivity, freedom of movement, and skills training. The Tourism Manifesto Alliance urges the EU for a Tourism Commissioner, a Tourism Taskforce in Parliament, and annual Ministerial Council meetings.

📢 HOTREC, the European hospitality industry association, held its 88th General Assembly in Budapest on Thursday, 25 April 2024. Discussions focused on labour and skills shortages, digital rules, and adapting to political and climate changes. Prior to the European elections and Hungarian EU presidency, industry leaders set policy priorities for the next five years, including enhancing tourism, talent support, fair digital rules, sustainability, and consumer preference adaptation. Next assembly: Autumn 2024, Warsaw, Poland. Turkish TUGEV joined HOTREC. Contact: Jasper Dober, HOTREC Media & Communications Manager.

💼 HOTREC, the European hospitality sector's umbrella association, is seeking an intern starting 2 September 2024 for a 6-month full-time position in Brussels. The intern will assist with EU policy advocacy, project management, and communication activities. They require a university degree, EU policy familiarity, a proactive attitude, and excellent English proficiency; additional European languages are beneficial. Applications are due by 12 June 2024 to [email protected], with "Internship" in the subject line. HOTREC represents 47 national associations from 36 countries.

🌏 On 3 February 2025, EU launches the first public consultation on draft Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for hotel accommodation, developed by a group representing over 51% of the EU hotel market, co-chaired by HOTREC. Stakeholders can review and provide feedback until 2 March 2025. Instructions and access to the draft are available online, aiming to improve environmental performance in the sector.

🏢 European OTA Kiwi.com has partnered with Sunlight Air, a Philippines’ airline, to integrate direct booking of the airline's best fares on Kiwi.com. The collaboration aims to enhance visibility for Sunlight Air in markets without direct operations or advertisement investment. Kiwi.com’s CCO Golan Shaked emphasized improved choice and customer experience through the partnership. Sunlight Air’s CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia echoed a shared dedication to customer excellence and anticipation for global traveler outreach.