Two speed hotel openings

According to the latest information and estimates of hotel industry pundits, Greece will open hotels in two main phases this year.

The first group of hotels is expected to start operating near the date of May 14, the day Greece officially opens the tourist season and the second group will follow in early June, while it is possible that some hotels will start a little later at the end of the same month and depending on how demand develops.

“We are opening on 14/5, this is clear,” said Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis recently in Parliament, speaking to a topical question from KINAL MPs.

But he added “we do not open by turning on a switch. Because we have to show that we are getting ready, we are starting gradually by sending a message to the international market that we have started.”

This was preceded by the “experimental opening” of April 19, by EU member states and five other countries (USA, United Kingdom, Serbia, United Arab Emirates and Israel) at nine airports (Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Kos , Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu).

Visitors from these countries do not need to be quarantined, provided that A) they have been negatively tested for COVID-19 coronavirus by PCR within the last seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Greece or B) in case of completion of the vaccination for coronavirus COVID-19 and presentation of a vaccination certificate, in English, which has been issued by a public authority, provided that fourteen (14) days have elapsed from the completion of the vaccination.

However, as there are not enough flights as well as many of the aforementioned countries still have closed borders and do not allow travel, Greek hoteliers do not expect a sufficient number of tourists this season and therefore prepare their units for the official opening on May 14th or a little later.

Indicatively, the Aldemar group has launched the opening of Aldemar Knossos Royal for May 14 and Aldemar Royal Mare for June 5.

However, as Mr. Angelopoulos notes, the picture of bookings is unclear, as long as it remains unclear which markets, and when, will open for Greece. There is demand and intense interest, which unfortunately, as long as the above applies, is not transformed into reservations.

Many airlines have not yet announced a flight schedule because many of those who wish to travel to Greece do not yet have a clear picture of the opening and also many units have not announced their opening. It is obvious that the intention of the government is to make the best and fastest opening given the health situation.

On the other hand, even today we are not at an ideal level in terms of health. However, the Greek hotel companies are ready, while they have proved their professionalism and responsibility with the successful operation last year using the covid protocols.

In the Sani / Ikos group, the opening of the hotels will take place in three phases. Sani opens on May 14, Ikos Resorts three days later on May 17 and there are two hotels left that will open on May 27. As noted by Mr. Antonis Avdelas General Manager of Sales & Marketing of Sani Resort / Ikos Resorts, bookings are moving at very high levels and have almost caught the bookings of 2019. He adds that last year also a difficult year the group hotels had many repeaters, something that is expected this year as well, as the guests of the Group’s hotels feel safe.

In Skiathos many hotels will open in early June. As noted by Vivi Nathanailidou, Managing Director of ELIVI SKIATHOS, the hotel she manages will welcome the first visitors in early June, while according to the Commercial Director of the hotel, Lena Velissaridou, the markets that are most interesting so far are Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Romania, with most bookings from July onwards. Of course, the Greek market is especially important for us, which, like last year, seems to be an important part of our traffic, he adds.

In the Dodecanese, the picture is similar as noted by Mr. Aris Soulounias, CEO of COLOSSOS SA, and Vice President of the Hotel Chamber of Greece (XEE) at the beginning of June, both companies of the group will operate in Rhodes, the seaside Amada Colossos Resort in Kallithea and Rodos Park Suites & Spa in the heart of the city. At this time, says Mr. Soulounias, there is a desire for travel that does not yet translate into reservations.

After the stabilization of the vaccination index, we expect a steady flow of bookings, he noted, adding that from mid-July to October a satisfactory increase of bookings is forecast in both Rhodes and Greece.

In Laconia, Mrs. Marina Efraimoglou, Founder of Euphoria Retreat, expects to welcome the first visitors from mid-May, with all the necessary measures for the health and safety of themselves and their staff. We estimate that in the first months we will see strong mobility from the Greek market, but also from Israel and the UAE, while our key markets such as England, France, Germany, etc. will return to demand when the landscape of travel restrictions clears up. , adds Christos Lourandos, General Manager of Euphoria Retreat.

Tui: Greece is first in reservations

The messages coming from abroad are also particularly positive.

As the communication director of Tui, Mr. Vangelis Georgiou, noted, Greece is first in demand, followed by Spain. Turkey has also fallen behind.

Part of the demand concerns last year’s bookings that were not implemented, but there are many new ones. However, the course of vaccination will judge the implementation of all plans, Mr. Georgiou emphasizes and adds that it is not excluded that in the middle of the season there will be a sharp increase in demand due to Europeans longing to travel.

In any case, people end up wanting to travel and primarily choose Greece, which means that the product is very good.