3,700 km disadvantage

Berlin. The expected tax relief wasn't granted though promises of individual improvements were made: in a 30 minute speech before 1,000 hoteliers and gastronomes in Berlin, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained what was possible in such hard economic times and what wasn't. The speech was the first time Angela Merkel had honoured the Dehoga Association as Chancellor. Prior to her appearance, Dehoga President Ernst Fischer focused his colleagues' attention once again on the current problems facing the industry. At the top of all demands to politicians was the request to reduce VAT from 19 to 7 percent.