News & Stories

Berlin. Google is now only allowed to display the stars for hotels in Germany that have been classified by the German industry association Dehoga. This has now been decided by the Berlin Regional Court.

Brussels. The European Commission adopted the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield on July 12. This new framework protects the fundamental rights of anyone in the EU whose personal data is transferred to the United States as well as bringing legal clarity for businesses relying on transatlantic data transfers.

Munich. The Center Parcs resort in Allgäu made headlines this week: Three people were infected with Covid-19, 120 contacts therefore had to be tested. What liability does the operator have if a guest is infected with Covid-19? Our legal expert explains.

Brussels. Negotiators of the European Parliament and the European Council have have agreed on EU class actions after lengthy negotiations. The scope of the collective action explicitly covers travel and tourism and the rights of air and rail passengers.

Cologne. As hotels begin to reopen after official closures intended to impede the spread of coronavirus, the Dorint Hotel Group has decided to resist the disproportionate restrictions on occupancy and the discrimination of guests imposed by the authorities. The group has therefore filed a lawsuit against the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In addition, 200 hoteliers in the country have decided to take legal action. As the first federal state, Bavaria allowed full occupancy in hotels from May 30.

Munich. Achat Hotels marketed it rooms as offices with WLan, B&B and Fleming's Hotels invited medical services to use their properties to accommodate staff... Are these just PR gags or is the conversion of a hotel really that easy in bureaucratic Germany? Lawyers answer with facts. Different support is offered by new initiative "Helping Hotels": empty hotels are ideal to isolate people at risk.

Berlin. The hotel and catering industry in Germany has been floored. Two days ago, the government pushed through its EUR 156 billion corona aid package, but despite this, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association and the German International Hotel Association this week made an urgent appeal for further support, better tailored to the specific needs of the industry, in a letter to the Chancellor. Quite exceptionally, politicians want to act very quickly, yet in practice there are many impediments, e.g. from house banks. By 14 April, everything is to be worked through. "But that's too late," Markus Luthe, Chief Executive of the IHA, and IHA Chairman Otto Lindner want politicians to know. An interview on the current state of affairs and on the tension in the industry.

Berlin. What is force majeure? This is one of the most frequently asked questions after the ITB cancellation. The Munich law firm Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein answers it. And the consulting firm mrp Hotels also wants to help the industry. Exclusively for hospitalityInside readers, they have compiled tips on how to deal with the crisis and what measures are available.

Brussels. Yesterday's decision by the European Court of Justice in the case brought by the French tourism association AHTOP against Airbnb Ireland strengthens the position of Airbnb and weakens local authorities. Competition between the online accommodation intermediary and the classic hotel industry thus remains unfair.

Augsburg. As of January 2020, the hotel guest's physical signature on the registration form will no longer be a legal requirement in Germany. Instead, two new procedures will be available for identifying the guest and for collecting his or her registration data. Though the new legislation is anything but a 100% solution, it is a step in the right direction.