1. Certification and
standardisation -
The HOTREC approach
By Dániel Makay
Policy Advisor of HOTREC
Hotels, Restaurants & Cafés in Europe
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

2. Introduction to HOTREC
 Represents
hospitality industry
at European level
 43 National
Associations
 in 26 European
countries
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

3. Introduction to HOTREC
European hospitality sector in the EU-27
 99% of enterprises employ < 50 people
 these 99% make up 62% of value added
 92% of enterprises employ < 10 people
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

4. Hospitality industry
Why do people travel?
To experience diversity in culture, approaches,
geographical situations
What is the response of the industry?
Tailor made services to the customer, based on the
cultural roots of the location
 Heterogeneity is the competitive feature of tourism
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

5. Services Directive
Art. 26
“… take action on a voluntary basis in order to ensure the
quality of service provision, in particular through use of
one of the following methods:
(a) certification or assessment of their activities by
independent or accredited bodies;
(b) drawing up their own quality charter or participation in
quality charters or labels drawn up by professional
bodies at Community level.”
 Certification in the latter sense favourable
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

6. HOTREC actions to comply
HOTREC initiatives responding to the Services Directive:
Setting up the “European Hospitality Quality scheme”
• Umbrella scheme recognising existing quality initiatives
• Benchmark across Europe
• Voluntary participation
Harmonisation of hotel classification systems
• Common principles followed by the majority
• Setting-up of the Hotelstars Union
classification system EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

7. Hotelstars Union
• Already 11 countries signed up to this cooperation
• Support from the Commission (John Dalli):
“The Commission supports such voluntary initiatives by
industry which may lead to a common classification all over
Europe.”
• Support from the EP (Fidanza Report):
“… positive experiences of industry associations (ex. Hotelstars
Union) and representatives of the sector; … calls on the
European hospitality industry to pursue its efforts towards a
gradual harmonisation of hotel classification, …”
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

8. HOTREC and standards
HOTREC approach to formal standards
Standards should be
• Market driven (bottom-up approach, i.e. in case of a
demand from the market)
• Based on consensus (support of industry included)
• Voluntary
• Easily accessible to all
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012

9. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND
ATTENTION!
www.hotrec.eu
EFTA workshop, 1 March 2012