A delegation from HOTREC – Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Caf?s in Europe, led by the organization’s president, Alexandros Vassilikos, and the general manager, Marie Odren, was in Copenhagen last week. A series of contacts with leading representatives of the Danish government, local government and tourism stakeholders highlighted the challenges and opportunities for the future of European hospitality, with an emphasis on employment, skills, sustainability and balanced development.
With the Mayor of Copenhagen for Employment & Inclusion, Jens-Kristian L?tken, European initiatives on education, apprenticeships and skills development were discussed, aiming to attract and retain talent in the sector, as well as to enhance career prospects.
At the same time, ideas were exchanged on tackling overtourism through fair rules for short-term rentals, the diversification of the tourism product and the meaningful participation of local communities.
At the offices of the Wonderful Copenhagen organization, CEO S?ren Tegen Pedersen presented innovative actions on how the capital can remain attractive for both residents and visitors, while supporting employment and the economy. The CopenPay initiative, which connects visitors with local experiences and the city’s sustainability goals, attracted particular interest.
The meeting with the Danish Minister of Tourism, Urban and Rural Affairs, Morten Dahlin, focused on the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the EU: building a European sustainable tourism strategy, establishing fairer rules for STR platforms, reducing bureaucracy, liberalizing the institutional framework and supporting SMEs.
As HOTREC President Alexandros Vassilikos stressed, the goal is “to build an innovative, sustainable and competitive hospitality and catering sector that will deliver value to businesses, workers and local communities across Europe”.
