Note from Carlos:
It has been an honor to serve you and the European holiday home industry for the past 8 years. Back in 2013 a small group of companies sat down together in Aachen of all places and decided to create a strong, positive, and inclusive European voice for short-term rental. What a quest it has been.
I have been working with the best pioneers, trailblazers, explorers, entrepreneurs, and the most gifted, talented, and resourceful individuals I have ever met. You have led a revolution leading to equality in travel, prosperity in society and greater freedom of choice for people. Our industry has always been open to new ideas and competition, and that has shaped not only our business but also challenged the existing structures in society. Thanks to this revolution, today all people can travel, and all places can open their doors to guests.
In 2013, platforms were still new to the scene, transatlantic and pan-European collaboration had just begun, and the technology would hardly be recognizable to kids of today. Now, we as an industry are the leaders of a public movement. A movement which even crazy regulation and an unprecedented lockdown of more than one and half years couldn’t stop.
During my years with the EHHA, I have traveled the length and breadth of Europe. And it has not only been a mind-blowing experience to see the great companies in our industry, I have made friends for life in all corners of our continent, thank you for letting me in.
We went from a fragmented, ignored, not-quite-business to become the leading accommodation industry because we stood our ground and stood up for our rights, the house-owners’ rights, and the people’s rights to travel. The right to rent out your home and to receive guests and indeed to be a guest, is a right worth fighting for. We grew our sector not by demanding restrictions on our competitors but by involving ourselves in society, by changing outdated structures and by being innovative, creative, and standing together.
As we joined forces, I was especially proud of the willingness in our industry to find common ground between house owners, property managers, service providers, platforms, and all of the ecosystem we are a part of. We didn’t try to slay other types of accommodations, instead we invited them in, and we see now how other parts of the tourism industry are becoming part of our world.
We set out on a mission to unite the industry, and as I told the Danish Trade Association, I feel we can now say: mission accomplished.
I leave you with the best conscience because I know that the foundations of the EHHA are strong. We are widely recognized and have a great secretariat in Brussels, super engaged members, and enough challenges ahead to bring us all together.
I will now step happily aside. I am turning 50 in October; if I had to do it, I had to do it now, sailing contentedly off into the sunset. I cannot wait.
See you on the other side, and good luck to you, I will miss you all. What a party it has been.