Dear Insider,
Tourism is a cash cow, easily milked by European governments. They have already sharply raised taxes for the hotel industry and airlines or have announced it for 2026. It just keeps coming. Two glaring examples: France wants to introduce an extra VAT of 33% on luxury goods - no more popping of champagne corks. And the British cry "Taxed Out". Passenger tax will rise again by next April, while the 20% VAT for the hospitality sector will remain. This has destroyed 89,000 jobs in the last nine months alone, UKHospitality says. Only in Germany does the VAT on food appear to be being rolled back.
Investors and operators have already switched to other markets due to the cost explosions, and the hotel market could freeze over, at least in areas, after such a cold tax bath.
At the end of the day, it's all a question of proportion: The US franchisor Choice Hotels no longer wants to expand in the United States, only in Europe and EMEA. In a mega-interview spanning ten pages, Ricardo Losada Revol, Senior VP International, and David Beers, CEO EMEA, stress: They want to write a new chapter in history with Europe. They are stepping on the gas, already taking over entire hotel bundles in individual countries; only Germany is on hold - too expensive. ... More
BWH Hotels has long wanted to grow in the long-stay segment, and now the Serviced Apartment group Ipartment has joined the network. The first five properties are already operating under the new long-stay brand @home by Best Western.
Luxury guests are willing to pay for exclusivity. But they expect perfection, says Corinna Döpkens, an expert in luxury travel. Digital structures ensure that hotels remain competitive.
During the summer flight schedule, around 68.5 million passengers departed from Germany's main airports to destinations abroad. That was 3 million or 4.6% more travellers than in the previous year. However, only Spain, Greece and Turkey saw figures higher than before the pandemic.
Morocco is also committed to responsible tourism: it is massively expanding its rail transport network, while the number of eco-friendly accommodations and local community projects is growing, making the country an interesting and sustainable destination.
Artificial intelligence makes many things easier at work – but who is liable when the tools produce incorrect results? A legal expert explains.
A survey in Austria shows that 84% of the hotels surveyed already offer e-charging stations. Investment and energy costs are the biggest hurdles.
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Hotels Tomorrow, edition 2
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HospitalityInside Think Tank, edition 9 on 11-12 May 2026 in Brussels
The results of the 2025 Investment BAROMETER survey reflect a complex and nuanced mood within the industry. While the outlook for individual companies and the industry as a whole has improved slightly compared to last year, uncertainties remain, particularly regarding hotel revenue development. Accordingly, the Operations Index remains under pressure, while the Development Index has risen significantly, easily offsetting its losses from the previous year.
