Starting in 2025, domestic guests staying in German hotels will no longer be required to fill out paper forms with their registration details at check-in.
This change is part of the Bureaucracy Relief Act (Bürokratieentlastungsgesetz) passed by the German Bundestag, which aims to simplify administrative processes and reduce paperwork.
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However, foreign guests will still need to adhere to the existing registration procedures, a point that has sparked concerns in the hotel industry.
Major reform for domestic hotel stays
The Bureaucracy Relief Act introduces several key reforms, one of the most notable being the removal of the mandatory registration requirement for domestic hotel guests.
Currently, German citizens are required to manually or digitally submit their details upon check-in, a practice that will end in the new year.
As part of this shift, hotel guests will no longer have to complete these registration forms, either by hand or online, streamlining the process for both guests and hotel staff.
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By GlobalDataThe government’s goal is to alleviate unnecessary bureaucracy, with expected annual savings of around €950 million for the economy. Markus Luthe, the CEO of the German Hotel Association (Hotelverband Deutschland), welcomed the move but also raised concerns about the challenges it may pose for the hospitality industry.
“We now have to distinguish between domestic and international guests, which is not in our DNA. This is likely to cause stress and questions at the hotel reception,” Luthe said.
Challenges for foreign guests and hotels
While domestic guests will benefit from this simplification, foreign visitors will still be required to provide their registration details.
International guests account for about 20% of hotel stays in Germany, and Luthe fears that the differing requirements could create confusion at check-in.
He expressed frustration with the ongoing paper-based procedures, stating, “We would have preferred a fully digital process for both domestic and international guests, like our neighbouring countries.”
Luthe’s criticism of the government’s decision reflects a broader concern within the hotel sector about the missed opportunity for greater digitalisation. Despite advancements in other industries, Luthe believes that the hotel sector could have been leading the charge in modernising check-in systems.
“This could have been the moment to introduce a fully digital solution, but unfortunately, it hasn’t come to fruition,” he added.
Implications for health resorts and spas
While the new law simplifies the process for most hotels, health resorts and spas may still require domestic guests to fill out paper forms. These establishments often rely on guest data for various administrative purposes, such as collecting contributions for spa fees or local tourism taxes.
Luthe highlighted that “in health resorts, more than 90% of guests are domestic visitors,” suggesting that the old system will remain in place for a significant portion of stays.
This continued reliance on paper registration in certain regions could undermine the overall goal of reducing administrative burdens. Some hotels in specific areas may also need to maintain separate systems for domestic and foreign guests, further complicating operations.
Despite these challenges, the Bureaucracy Relief Act marks a significant step towards simplifying the hotel check-in process for German residents, albeit with some limitations for international visitors and specific sectors.
As the reform comes into effect, hotels will need to adapt to these new rules, ensuring a smoother check-in process for domestic guests while navigating the ongoing requirements for international travellers.
