📢 Hospitality in crisis? Or a golden opportunity?

Hi there! 👋

I hope you're doing well! Let’s dive into the most important hospitality news from around the world today. This update will help you stay informed about industry trends, improve your daily work, and, if you're in a leadership role, enhance your strategy.

We kindly ask you to share this newsletter with your colleagues so they can also benefit from this deep analysis.

Let’s dive in!

📌 Today’s Top Stories:

🔹 Exciting job opportunity at the end of today’s issue
🚨 South Africa’s VAT Hike: A Threat to Tourism Growth?
🏨 Egypt’s Hotel Boom: The New Hospitality Hotspot in Africa
📉 Rising Employment Costs: Will Your Hotel Be Forced to Cut Staff?
💼 Talent Crisis or Pay War? The Real Battle for Hospitality Workers

Enjoy the read, and stay ahead in the hospitality world! 🚀

Hospitality - Africa

South Africa’s VAT Hike Debate: A Warning for the Hospitality Sector

If you're managing a hotel in South Africa, the mere talk of a VAT increase should grab your attention. The proposed 2% hike might seem small, but its ripple effect could be devastating—higher accommodation costs, lower international competitiveness, and ultimately, fewer bookings.

David Frost from SATSA and Rosemary Anderson from FEDHASA have made it clear: Tourism thrives on affordability. South Africa’s unique selling point is being a value-for-money destination. A tax increase would erase that advantage, making it harder to attract cost-conscious global travelers.

More importantly, the impact isn’t just on hotels—restaurants, tour operators, and local businesses all stand to lose. With inflation already squeezing margins, absorbing costs isn’t an option, and passing them on could drive guests away.

The big takeaway? 📌 Instead of increasing taxes on tourism, governments should support investment—whether through incentives or infrastructure improvements. A strong hospitality sector creates jobs and fuels economic growth. Now more than ever, industry leaders need to push for policies that protect and enhance the sector, not burden it further.

👉 More on this: [Full Article Here]

Sharing is Caring 💌

If you found today’s newsletter helpful, why not share the knowledge?

Please forward it to your colleagues and help everyone stay up to date on the latest in hospitality! Let’s spread the knowledge and get smarter together! 🌍 💼

Hospitality Development

Egypt Leads Africa’s Hotel Investment Boom – What It Means for the Industry

If you're a hotelier in Africa, Egypt’s rise as the leader in hotel investments signals a major shift. With 109 new hotel projects adding over 26,000 rooms, the country is positioning itself as the hospitality powerhouse of the continent.

Why does this matter? Because where investment flows, opportunity follows. Egypt’s success is driven by strong tourism demand, infrastructure improvements, and government support—a playbook other African countries should study.

Compare this to Nigeria, the second-ranked country, which has 50 projects and 7,600 new rooms. While the gap is wide, it shows that African hospitality is heating up, and investors are betting big on the continent’s potential.

For hotel managers, this signals a few things:

1. Increased competition – More rooms mean more choices for travelers. Hotels must focus on differentiation through experiences, service, and pricing.

2. Regional expansion opportunities – Markets like Morocco, Ethiopia, and Kenya are also growing rapidly. Could this be the time to explore new locations?

3. Investor confidence – The sheer scale of new developments suggests a long-term belief in African tourism, despite global uncertainties.

Bottom line? The future of hospitality in Africa looks bright, but competitive. Now is the time to innovate, strategize, and prepare for an increasingly sophisticated travel market.

👉 More details here: Full Article

Did you know - Hospitality 🤔

As per the International Labor Office estimates, 55% of the Global Hotel workforce are women.

When the work is speaking about fair workplace regulations, the hospitality industry has looked fair for decades now.

Hospitality Outlook

Rising Employment Costs: How Will It Impact Your Hotel’s Future?

Staffing is the backbone of hospitality, but 70% of businesses in the industry in UK are planning job cuts starting in April. Why? Employer national insurance contributions (NICs) are increasing from 13.8% to 15%, while the threshold for payments drops from £9,100 to £5,000.

This means higher costs per employee, squeezed margins, and difficult decisions. 29% of hospitality businesses plan to reduce trading hours, and 15% expect to close at least one site. With minimum wage also rising to £12.21 per hour, cost pressures are unavoidable.

So, what’s the move? 📌 Instead of reactive cuts, look at efficiency strategies—from automation in operations to restructuring roles for maximum productivity. Upskilling existing staff can also drive long-term cost savings.

Start by auditing your staffing efficiency and payroll impact now. Explore flexible workforce models and invest in tech-driven solutions to optimize costs. The businesses that adapt fastest will be the ones thriving in 2025.

👉 More details here: Full Article

Workforce

Talent Shortage or Pay Hike? What’s Really Happening in Hospitality Hiring

While businesses struggle with rising employment costs, another trend is emerging—average salaries in the UK have climbed to nearly £41,000. Hospitality professionals are in high demand, yet job vacancies are at their lowest since 2021.

This signals a shift. The hiring landscape is getting tougher, with increased competition for skilled workers. But here’s the paradox: as hiring slows down, wages in sectors like logistics, retail, and maintenance are soaring, making hospitality jobs less attractive.

This is a wake-up call. If you’re struggling to retain staff, it’s not just about wages—it’s about workplace experience, career growth, and flexibility. The best talent is choosing employers who offer more than just a paycheck.

Reassess your employee value proposition. Are you investing in training, career progression, and workplace culture? Retention is the new recruitment. The hotels that prioritize employee satisfaction will win the talent war—while others scramble to fill vacancies.

👉 More details here: Full Article

Round-Up:

Today’s Round-Up: Hospitality Insider Round-Up: What’s Shaping the Industry Now?

🔹 South Africa’s VAT Hike Debate – A Wake-Up Call for Hoteliers
A potential VAT increase might seem like just another tax adjustment, but in hospitality, it’s a game-changer. Higher accommodation costs mean fewer international guests, and fewer guests mean lower revenues. South Africa thrives as a value-for-money destination, and if that advantage disappears, so do bookings. The takeaway? Industry leaders must push for supportive policies instead of cost burdens. The real question: How will your pricing strategy evolve if this happens?

🔹 Egypt’s Hotel Investment Boom – What It Means for You
With 109 new hotel projects and over 26,000 rooms in the pipeline, Egypt is taking the lead in Africa’s hospitality expansion. What’s driving this? Tourism demand, infrastructure growth, and strong government backing. But with more rooms comes tougher competition. Hoteliers across Africa should be thinking about differentiation, regional expansion, and investor confidence. How will you stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market?

🔹 Rising Employment Costs – Adapt or Struggle?
With NICs increasing and minimum wage climbing, 70% of hospitality businesses are already planning staff cuts. But cutting costs isn’t just about reducing headcount—it’s about restructuring for efficiency, adopting tech-driven solutions, and maximizing team productivity. The smartest operators will optimize, not just downsize. What’s your efficiency game plan?

🔹 Talent Shortage or Salary War? The Real Hiring Challenge
Hospitality wages are climbing, yet vacancies are at a three-year low. Other industries are outpacing hospitality in pay, benefits, and career appeal. If you’re struggling with staff retention, the answer isn’t just in salaries—it’s in workplace culture, career growth, and flexibility. The best employees are choosing workplaces, not just jobs. How are you making your hotel the employer of choice?

Now is the time to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead. The hospitality landscape is shifting—will you lead or react?

Feel free to reply to this email with your thoughts! 📧🤔 WE READ ALL YOUR ANSWERS!

Job Opportunity

🌟 Exciting Opportunity: Hotel Project Manager – Vienna 🌟

bnetwork, a leading SaaS accommodation management company, is expanding its presence in Vienna and looking for a Hotel Project Manager to join its growing team. If you have experience in hotel reservations, contracting, and event accommodation management, this is your chance to work with some of the biggest names in the industry—think Mobile World Congress, Web Summit, and Roland Garros.

🔹 What You’ll Do:

• Negotiate and contract hotel rooms for large-scale events across Vienna & EMEA.

• Manage client requests and create tailored accommodation proposals.

• Handle contracts, invoicing, and payment follow-ups.

• Solve participant issues in collaboration with hotel partners.

🔹 What You Bring:

• 2-3 years’ experience in hotel reservation, contracting, or MICE industry.

• Strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Fluency in German & English (additional languages are a plus).

• Tech-savvy with Excel, Outlook, Word, and a keen eye for detail.

🔹 Why Join?

• Prime Vienna Location – Work in the heart of the city.

• Flexibility – Choose your start time & enjoy remote work 1 day/week.

• Stability & Perks – Full-time contract, 25 days annual leave.

📢 If you’re ready to take your hospitality career to the next level, apply now or share with your network!

👉 Apply now or share with a talented chef in your network!

Sharing is Caring 💌

If you found today’s newsletter helpful, why not share the knowledge?

📲 Forward this to your colleagues and team members to keep them in the loop on the latest hospitality industry trends.

The more we share, the smarter we all become. Let’s spread the word and make sure everyone is up to date on the changes shaping the future of our industry! 🌍💼

Together, we can stay ahead of the curve!