European Union Enterprise Policy and the Hospitality Industry

Abstract

Continuing Western European trends towards concentration create acute competitive pressures for smaller operators in the hospitality industry. The aim of European Union enterprise policy is to support the development of such business in the various member states. Reports the outcome of a project which sought to identify the value to hospitality organizations of a central tenet of that policy, the provision of business information through the European Information Centre network. Finds that official optimism is misplaced with few UK and Irish hospitality businesses taking advantage of the services on offer. Highlights the potential benefits of the initiative but cautions that if current practices continue these will not materialize for the majority of firms in this industry.