NACE 55.1 – Hotels and Similar Accommodation | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 55.1 covers the economic activity of hotels, motels and similar accommodation establishments that provide short-term overnight stays including meals, cleaning and laundry services. In public procurement, these services are particularly relevant for official travel, further training and seminars of public authorities.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 55.1 cover?

NACE 55.1 (Hotels and similar accommodation) classifies undertakings that offer short-term accommodation with accompanying services in hotel operations — an area which is awarded in the public sector mainly through framework agreements for official travel and event accommodation.

Group 55.1 within Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) and Division 55 (Accommodation) covers the following typical types of operation:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 55.1 are federal authorities, ministries, subordinate authorities, social insurance providers, universities and higher education institutions and municipal administrations procuring accommodation services for staff on official travel or for externally held training and offsite events.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 55.1

Hotel services are awarded in the public sector predominantly through framework agreements that allow for numerous individual call-offs — an efficient instrument for authorities with regular travel needs.

Typical types of contract

• Framework agreements for official travel accommodation: Nationwide or regional agreements with hotel chains or hotel groups for ad-hoc bookings by authority staff
• Seminar and conference accommodation: Combined bookings for conference rooms, accommodation and full board for multi-day training events
• Accommodation for major events: Accommodation services for international conferences, summits or EU Council presidencies
• Training hotels for public authorities: Long-term cooperation with specialist conference hotels for recurring training and further education
• Accommodation for external service providers: Accommodation of external experts, surveyors and inspectors

Thresholds and procedure types

Framework agreements for hotel services can exceed the EU thresholds for service contracts (EUR 221,000 for central authorities, EUR 221,000 for other public contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025) over several years owing to aggregated contract volumes. Below the thresholds, national procedures such as direct award or restricted tendering are used.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 55.1

The link between the NACE classification and tender searches is made via CPV codes, which must be specified in every EU-wide contract notice on TED.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms such as the German DTVP or the Austrian tender portal.

For whom is NACE 55.1 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

All federal authorities and ministries with regular official travel are potential contracting authorities in the NACE 55.1 segment. In Germany, the federal procurement office (BeschA) often coordinates central framework agreements for federal authorities. In Austria, Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG) organises bundled hotel framework agreements that can be called off by all public contracting authorities. Universities, research institutions and hospitals additionally tender accommodation services for congresses and specialist conferences in their own right.

Companies and bidders

Hotel operations and hotel chains wishing to participate in public tenders should consider the following:

• Price transparency: Public contracting authorities generally require clear pricing structures with defined conditions for various room categories
• Certifications: Sustainability certificates (e.g. EMAS, EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation) are positively evaluated where sustainability criteria are applied
• Accessibility: Accessible accommodation is frequently defined as a minimum requirement in public tenders
• Data protection: Guest data must be processed in compliance with the GDPR; corresponding evidence must be kept available
• Cancellation conditions: Flexible cancellation options are particularly relevant for authorities owing to changing operational planning

Frequently asked questions about NACE 55.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 55.1?
All accommodation operations that predominantly provide short-term overnight stays in classical hotel operations with associated services (breakfast, cleaning, reception). Holiday flats without service are classified under NACE 55.2.

Can individual hotels without chain affiliation also participate in framework agreements?
Yes. Many public contracting authorities deliberately design tenders so that individual hotels or smaller operations in certain regions may also participate. Bidding consortia also enable smaller providers to jointly serve larger contracts.

How do I find current hotel tenders for the public sector?
EU-wide notices can be found on TED via CPV search (55100000, 55120000). Below the thresholds, regular monitoring of national platforms and authority notice portals is recommended.

Do special sustainability requirements apply to hotel services?
Increasingly, yes. The EU procurement directives and national implementing legislation increasingly require the integration of environmental and social criteria. For hotel services, these may include requirements on energy efficiency, water consumption, food waste and fair working conditions.

NACE 55.1 in context: Section I and Division 55

• NACE I – Accommodation and food service activities: Parent section covering all accommodation and food service activities
• NACE 55 – Accommodation: Division covering all forms of accommodation
• NACE 55.2 – Holiday and other short-stay accommodation: Holiday flats, holiday houses, recreation homes
• NACE 55.3 – Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks: Camping and motorhome pitches
• NACE 55.9 – Other accommodation: Youth hostels, asylum accommodation
• NACE 56.1 – Restaurants and mobile food service activities: Accompanying catering services

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.