Highlighting some key issues for the hospitality industry, Maria Carmela Colaiacovo, president of Confindustria’s Italian Hotels Association, said that despite the signs of recovery hotels are still as risk, as energy costs are unsustainable after two years of almost complete standstill.
"The year 2022 opened with good prospects, but a 'perfect storm' has hit the hotel industry again. The exponential increase in energy has increased costs to unsustainable levels. Although hotels do not fall into the energy-intensive category, in practice the cost of energy bills is one of the largest items in their budgets which is why structural interventions are necessary to keep them alive. We support the government's actions to identify a medium-to-long-term strategy to cap the cost of gas, but immediate action is also needed to save the sector,” she said.
During the two years of the pandemic many hospitality professionals had to opt for new career paths and Colaiacovo advocates a cut in the tax wedge.
“We are well aware that this is a costly measure, but it is necessary to keep companies competitive on international markets. The labour shortage is serious. We need an organic framework and a system of rules capable of overcoming the abusive practices widespread in many cities and destinations.”
Colaiacovo also noted the importance of bringing clarity to the issue of beach concessions which is another problem facing hotels.
