Energy costs loom as biggest challenge for European hotels

14-12-22

Booking.com's European Accommodation Barometer 2022, produced by Statista, reveals that 80% of hoteliers see the energy crisis as their biggest concern across the 10 countries in the report, including France, Germany and Spain.

Forty-eight percent of respondents cite the general economic situation as the next most important challenge, followed by staff acquisition and retention (43%) and staff costs (42%).

The survey, based on interviews with 1,000 hotel executives between August and October this year, also reveals hoteliers' views on the last six months and the next six months.

Generally, hoteliers rate their business positively over the past six months, with 70% rating it as good or very good.

However, when it comes to the future, respondents are less positive, with only 40% saying they feel positive or very positive and 17% very negative.

Respondents were also asked about their investment plans for the next six months: 23% plan to spend less, 28% plan to spend more and the rest will invest the same amount.

The survey also reflected hoteliers' level of digital maturity, with respondents predictably saying they feel more prepared for digital transformation than green transformation.

While areas such as channel management are no longer seen as an issue, social media marketing is now seen as the biggest challenge when it comes to digital transformation, according to 31%.

Within the area of decarbonisation and sustainability, energy efficiency is highlighted as the top challenge by 50%, followed by waste reduction, 29%, and preservation of natural resources, 19%.

Booking.com plans to repeat the study every six months and will focus on different areas of concern for hoteliers in the future.