SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 24, 2025 – The think tank "Future of the Hospitality Industry" (DZG) has congratulated the Union and its chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz on their election victory and made urgent demands for swift government formation. In light of the current economic uncertainties and social tensions, it is now essential to make rapid and decisive decisions. The DZG sees the possibility of a grand coalition between the CDU and SPD to ensure stability but emphasizes the need to initiate urgently required economic policy reforms.
Opportunities and Demands of the Hospitality Industry
The election result opens up very promising prospects for the hospitality industry. "The Union clearly committed to strengthening the hospitality industry in the election campaign – now these words must be followed by concrete actions," demands Dr. Marcel Klinge, Chairman of the DZG. The sector, which employs 6.2 million people, now needs clear future perspectives: a permanent retention of the 7 percent VAT rate for food, a consistent reduction in bureaucratic hurdles, targeted recruitment of skilled workers from abroad, and improved investment conditions. "Politicians must act before rising costs and economic uncertainty further burden businesses. The hospitality industry needs relief now – not in a year. Announcements from the election campaign should therefore quickly translate into concrete government action," says Klinge.
Warning Signals and Solutions
Despite the high voter turnout, the election result is also a clear warning signal. The strong growth of the AfD illustrates that many people do not see clear economic prospects. "This is not only a burden for the tourism location but also internally. When uncertainty spreads, support for simple answers grows. But instead of populist slogans, we need real solutions: growth, investment, and secure jobs," emphasizes Klinge. A stable government must therefore urgently take measures to stimulate economic dynamics and restore trust in politics.
Economic Policy Strategies and Demands
The DZG calls for a long-term economic policy strategy that includes investment incentives, tax relief, and a modern labor market policy. Measures such as a toll moratorium until 2029, a reduction in the electricity tax to the EU minimum value, and a reform of grid fees are crucial to relieve companies in the hospitality industry. "These steps are not gifts but investments in Germany as a business location," says Klinge.
Institutional Anchoring and Political Recognition
To pursue these goals effectively, the hospitality industry demands institutional anchoring in the federal government. A State Minister for Tourism in the Chancellery could finally bring the sector out of political obscurity. "A strong hospitality industry means economic stability and social cohesion. Anyone who wants to hold the country together economically and socially cannot overlook the hospitality industry. The new chancellor could send an important signal to the hospitality industry with such a structural decision," explains Klinge. The upcoming government now has the chance to regain lost trust.
About the Think Tank "Future of the Hospitality Industry" (DZG)
Founded in 2021, the think tank "Future of the Hospitality Industry" (DZG) is a network that brings together politics, associations, and leading representatives from all value-added areas of the tourism, hospitality, and foodservice industries. Members include the Radeberger Group, Deutsche Bahn, Unilever Food, Motel One, Transgourmet, Metro, Center Parcs, Dorint, Bioland, Dussmann, NordCap, Best Reisen, FlixBus, Rational, and Gerolsteiner, among others. The interdisciplinary think tank focuses on strategic future topics such as employee recruitment, sustainability, digitalization, and the nutrition transition, and develops practical measures for effective crisis management.
The member companies of the DZG employ a total of over 665,000 people across Germany. The financing and sponsorship of the think tank are provided by the Union der Wirtschaft e.V.
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