Europe’s hotel sector is assessing how the proposed digital euro could affect everyday payment operations, with industry representatives warning that cost structures and system design will determine whether hotels actively use the new currency.
A position paper published by HOTREC, which represents Europe’s hospitality industry, outlines how the digital euro could work in hotels and other high-volume service environments.
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The report focuses on payment costs, system integration, and operational practicality for hotel businesses handling frequent, low-value transactions.
Payment costs for hotels
Hotels process a high number of small transactions, from room charges to food and beverage services. This makes payment fees a critical factor in evaluating the digital euro.
The report highlights that many hospitality businesses—mostly small and medium-sized operators—already face card acceptance fees significantly higher than large retailers.
HOTREC states that the digital euro must be cheaper than existing payment methods. If transaction costs match current card fees, hotels are unlikely to promote its use beyond basic compliance.
To support early adoption, the sector proposes a temporary zero-fee regime for low-value point-of-sale payments. Over time, it suggests a capped fee structure, including a maximum charge of 0.1% per transaction and a fixed cap per payment.
Role alongside existing payments
The hotel industry is clear that the digital euro should complement, not replace, existing payment options such as cash and cards.
Hotels operate across diverse markets with varying guest preferences and payment habits. Maintaining multiple payment methods is seen as essential for guest satisfaction and operational flexibility.
The report also notes that the digital euro could offer a European alternative to a payments market currently dominated by non-European providers. This could increase competition and reduce dependency on external systems.
Operational impact on hotel systems
For hotels, the practical design of the digital euro will determine how easily it can be integrated into property management and payment systems.
HOTREC calls for features that support daily hotel operations, including offline functionality to ensure continuity during connectivity issues and compatibility with existing payment infrastructure.
The report also recommends flexible settlement options, such as delayed batch processing, to align with how hotel revenues are managed. Seamless integration is considered essential to avoid additional operational complexity for hotel staff.
The digital euro remains under discussion at EU level, with key decisions still pending on fee models and the role of financial intermediaries. For hotel operators, these outcomes will determine whether the digital euro becomes a practical payment tool or simply a regulatory requirement.
