HOTREC: Europe’s Hoteliers Applaud New EU Short-term Rental Rules

HOTREC, the umbrella association of Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Cafés and similar establishments in Europe, welcomed the provisional agreement on EU Short-Term Rental Regulation reached recently by the European Council under the Spanish presidency.

The agreement sees new rules that require host registration and a data sharing framework with public authorities.

According to HOTREC, the new rules will help to level the playing field between short-term rentals (STRs) and traditional accommodation providers (hotels).

“As one of the most regulated sectors in the EU, hoteliers find it unfair to compete with accommodations that are currently not even required to submit basic sets of data. We are also encouraged to see that the regulation introduces rules and obligations to online platforms that have significantly contributed to the current imbalances in the market.”

HOTREC sees the law as an important public policy tool that will increase transparency and competitiveness in the accommodation market.

Referring to the agreement as “an important milestone for the entire hospitality sector”, HOTREC Director General Marie Audren said For almost ten years the association has been warning of the negative effects, lack of basic rules for short-term rentals and untransparent behaviour of online platforms.

“It is important that member states implement the rules and start collecting data as soon as possible,” she said.

According to HOTREC, if all EU member states implement the regulation in their legal systems, they will understand the issues of STRs “which are in our view still underestimated”.

HOTREC added that hoteliers are encouraged to see that many EU member states already signalled their willingness to implement the regulation.

HOTREC brings together 47 national associations in 36 countries in Europe and serves as the voice of the European hospitality industry.