News & Stories
Vienna. In Austria, Omicron and the high-risk status have been causing empty beds and coffers since the turn of the year. The state aid measures no longer work because of the contradictory tightening and loosening policies. The economic situation of many hotels is hanging by a thread. Consolidation is likely to take its course soon.
Brussels. Although the Omicron wave is spreading rapidly, the European Council is encouraging travellers through numerous travel facilitations. In parallel, the World Tourism Organisation has released recent figures on the impact of the covid pandemic on international tourism. Things are moving, but it still remains bitter.
Barcelona. The Spanish city's urban development from 2017 has been replaced by new rules trying to allow controlled hotel growth and securing the residents' rights to access their homes in the city center. Barcelona's hotel industry shows understanding.
Bern. Hospitalisation and occupancy of intensive care beds in Switzerland is easing, yet the Swiss Federal Council is extending the 2G+ measures until the end of March and the quarantine obligation until the end of February. Now several rules apply in one property.
Rome/Madrid/Brussels/Amsterdam/Paris. This Christmas and winter season is worse than 2020. The frustration of hoteliers as well as industry associations in Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands is growing. Everyone sees one thing: politics reacts overnight, with rigorous surprises, ever-changing rules and little will to react appropriately. The fear of Omicron, in fact, increases the actionism. Our correspondents report.
Berlin/Vienna/Bern. The turn of the year has not led to the hoped-for Corona relief in the DACH region, but to further restrictions and more chaos. The industry is sounding the alarm and has now definitely reached the limit. Politicians are only marginally listening to them.
Rome. On Wednesday, the Italian government issued a new regulation that complicates entry: all travellers, including vaccinated ones, must also show a negative test. Non-vaccinated persons must be quarantined. This massively increases the worries for the industry.
Vienna. The governing people say that this was not an easy decision. Likewise, their decision was not easy for the hotel industry and gastronomy, and that goes for consumers as well. Now, they all have to follow highly diverse, regional regulations, which all follow one rule in the end: economic interests come before health interests. Vienna remains closed the longest – until December 20, despite the lowest infection rate in the entire country. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, new, stricter measures are emerging because of the situation in intensive care units.
Paris. France is the one country in Europe recovering faster than others, according to WTTC. How? Well, having the President's ear and the full power of a government who believes in tourism certainly helps. Following a 38-billion-euro pandemic aid fund, President Macron recently announced a 5-pillar recovery plan. It’s bold, ambitious, people-oriented, sustainable and digital.
Frankfurt. The event industry is generally confident that meetings & events with personal attendance will already increase strongly in the coming year. But there are differences between the continents, in Europe optimism still leaves much to be desired, and overall, the industry will probably lose ground in the long run.