On 17 September will take place an event in the European Parliament to launch a new report by Ernst & Young on the contribution made by the hospitality sector to Europe’s economy, growth and jobs. Entitled “Toasting Europe´s future: The role of the hospitality industry in re-launching growth”, the launch will take place over a dinner debate from 18.30 to 20.30 in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Europe’s hospitality sector comprises 1.8 million restaurants, bars, cafés, pubs, hotels etc. across the European Union. In the context of growing unemployment across the EU, particularly amongst youth, it is interesting to note that direct jobs in hospitality have grown from 7.5 to over 10 million employees since the turn of the century.
 
Europe’s hospitality sector also leads the way in being one of the major employers of young people, with around half its workforce under the age of 35. The sector is made up predominately of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) with 99% of hospitality businesses having fewer than 50 members of staff.

The Brewers of Europe, with support fromHOTREC,have commissioned a report by Ernst & Young to provide a snapshot of the hospitality sector today in the context of Europe’s ongoing economic difficulties. The report also looks at the close links along the value chain and the interdependencies between sectors such as hospitality and brewing, which depends heavily on bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants as the route to market for the tens of thousands of beer brands in the EU. The report compares the health of the hospitality sector today with that of ten years ago and breaks down a number of economic indicators which help illustrate the strength of the hospitality sector. It also contains detailed national chapters for 31 countries including all EU Member States.

Confirmed speakers at the event include Emma McClarkin MEP, Paul Rübig MEP, Lukáš Veselý (Cabinet of EU Commissioner Andor), Pierre-Olivier Bergeron (Secretary-General, The Brewers of Europe), Kent Nystrom (President, HOTREC), John Hopes (Report author, Ernst & Young).
 
To register and find out more about the event and its speakers, please click here: http://www.cvent.com/events/toasting-europe-s-future-the-role-of-the-hospitality-industry-in-re-launching-growth/