Energy costs seen as biggest challenge for European hotels

Hoteliers across Europe view rising energy costs as their biggest challenge currently according to a report.

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

The wider economic situation is highlighted as the next biggest challenge by 48%, followed by staff acquisition and retention (43%) and cost of staff at 42%.

The study, based on interviews with 1,000 hotel executives between August and October this year, also reveals hotelier sentiment about the past six months and the next six months.

Hoteliers are broadly positive about their business in the past six months with 70% rating it good or very good.

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

Respondents were also also quizzed on investment plans for the next six months with 23% planning to spend less, 28% planning to spend more and the remainder will invest the same amount.

The study also reflected a level of digital maturity among hoteliers with respondents, perhaps unsurprisingly, 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 considered the biggest challenge when it comes to digital transformation according to 31%.

Within the area of decarbonization and sustainability, energy efficiency is highlighted as the main 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 concerning hoteliers going forward.