News & Stories
The European umbrella organization of hotel associations, HOTREC, confirmed this week that the collective action seeking compensation for European hotels harmed by Booking.com’s unlawful parity clauses has been formally initiated before the Amsterdam District Court.
Hotel investment is clearly returning across Europe, but the recovery is far from uniform. While Spain is once again attracting capital at scale, supported by booming tourism and large portfolio deals, the Netherlands is taking a more cautious and selective path. A different investment dynamic within the same European landscape.
Europe's real estate market is entering a new cycle and shifting away from yield-driven strategies. With interest rates staying higher for longer, income and asset quality are moving back into the spotlight. In this environment, hotels stand out for their resilient fundamentals.
Initial evaluations of the figures for 2025 show that the number of overnight stays in Switzerland continues to rise. According to one forecast, this trend is set to continue in 2026.
The Italian holding company Alpitour World controls the hotel brands Voihotels and Vretrats. It looks back on a history spanning almost 80 years. Now, there appears to be movement in the holding company's five divisions. The new Group GM is probably just the beginning.
Austria's tourism year began with positive overnight-stay numbers and, at the same time, tangible pessimism in the industry. This is not an uncommon combination in the Alpine Republic, where industry scepticism is less about global crises and more about undesirable developments within the country.
Europe's event-driven tourism sector maintained strong momentum in 2025, with overall tourism spending rising by +7% year on year, a growth reflecting sustained demand for live experiences and the considerable economic value they generate for local communities.
"Where others see leaves, we see growth," said a real estate specialist recently, referring to the development of the hotel market next year. Such optimism also caused surprise among the participants.
The year 2025 has not been easy for the hospitality industry, especially in Germany. Europe's engine is stuttering, the chassis is trembling. More insolvencies are looming at the horizon as well as higher costs and zero profit. But the industry still finds time to celebrate itself. The ego is back – in parts – instead of transparency and credibility.
Airbnb must now delete around 65,000 holiday home listings. The Spanish government is cracking down hard. The accommodation is being denounced in Spain as a driver of the housing shortage.
