/sites/default/files/upload/spectrum_week_2_may_23_new.pdfIRISH HOTELS WELCOME AMMENDMENTS TO NEW EU PACKAGE TRAVEL DIRECTIVE
Friday, 30th October 2015: The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed a number of significant amendments by the European Parliament to new rules for the EU Package Travel Directive proposed by the European Commission.
Welcoming the amendments as a workable compromise, Tim Fenn, Chief Executive of the IHF states that changes to the Directive’s definition of a travel ‘package’ will avoid unreasonable levels of additional bureaucracy and costs being imposed on accommodation providers, such as hotels and guesthouses.
Mr Fenn notes that the original proposals by the European Commission would have resulted in onerous levels of regulation for hotels that provide guests with additional services such as airport transfers. These hotels would have been subject to requirements associated with package tour operators such as insolvency insurance protection. Similar requirements would have been imposed for local tourism services booked through the hotel such as golf trips, cycling tours and spa treatments.
Mr Fenn welcomed the support of Irish MEPs in securing the amendments to the Directive. In particular he thanked Deirdre Clune, MEP, who sits on the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism and has worked closely with the IHF to raise industry concerns in relation to this issue.
ENDS
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