What is the current distribution of hotel accommodation in the EU, and what are the main trends in this sector? What is the impact of online booking platforms on hotel accommodation distribution in terms of competition and commercial practices? Considering parity clauses and the competition between hotels and platforms, whether online travel agencies or price comparison websites, how do these factors influence pricing policies and competitiveness in the EU hotel sector?

A telephone survey was conducted, engaging a mix of independent hotels and hotel chains. EU countries of varying sizes were included, based on their distribution within the European macro-regions (North, West, East, and Central-Southern Europe). 

The data collected allowed us to analyze the context, study the dynamics and strategies of different players in the hotel accommodation sector, both in terms of proposition and pricing, and explore partnership models and new opportunities.

We observed that the rise of innovative digital booking platforms has introduced dynamic and hyper-competitive pricing mechanisms, which require constant monitoring and regulation by institutions. On one hand, these platforms have increased competitive pressure on chains and large hotel groups, while on the other, they have created new opportunities for small hotels to enhance their visibility and streamline their operations.