Hoping for faster answers

Augsburg. Actually, one could take the summary of 2014 and add: Everything occurred, but even faster and in an even more aggressive and more complex form. The OTAs, the P2P platforms, the foreign capital and the conclusion of mega transactions and mega mergers thereby continued to determine the topics of 2015. And this is not only in Germany and Europe, but worldwide. Nevertheless, there was something that was not foreseen: The terrorism that is slowly beginning to change tourism. And this saddening signal is already dragging itself into the first days of the new year. A review and outlook.

Brussels. Last month, HOTREC held its General Assembly in Riga. On the agenda, a major topic which seriously concerns the hospitality industry: „the shadow hospitality economy” – the new name for the Peer-to-Peer platforms of the Sharing Economy. We asked Christian de Barrin, CEO of HOTREC to share his concerns about the new but fast growing phenomenon.

Brussels/Berlin/Rome. As a general rule, there is not a great deal that penetrates to the outside; behind the scenes, however, the officials within the European hotel industry are exerting great effort in defending the hotel industry against business-damaging influences stemming from the market and from the policy. Particularly counting among them in these current times are the battles against the giants of the online travel agents and the new competitors from the grey area of the private room portals. However, many topics are also dictated by the EU, which is why the European umbrella organisation of hotels, restaurants and cafés, HOTREC, also sits in Brussels and makes use of the quick paths the politicians. "The EU sees the voice of the hospitality industry in us," HOTREC President Kent Nystroem emphasises the growing perception of the industry lobbyists. They have learnt over recent years to argue with hard numbers and facts.