Renovated Hotels Survive Crisis

The majority of hotels that modernized their operations and infrastructure and enhanced their overall presence in the domestic and international market held a strong position during the global economic crisis when compared with 2008, according to a research study carried out by the Hotels Association of Magnesia.

The results of the research study were presented during a marketing workshop held in Volos for World Tourism Day on 27 September, organized by the Hellenic Hotels Federation.

According to the study, 30 out of 81 hotels in Magnesia that were interviewed (30 percent of the total 270 hotels in the region) had recorded this year a 12 percent average growth in the number of overnights and a revenue increase of 23 percent when compared with 2008. Those hotels had upgraded and diversified their product over the last two to three years (adoption of new technologies and management systems, Internet, online reservations, targeted promotion, etc).

The study underlined that the figures were in sharp contrast to those of other hotels that recorded a 30 percent reduction of overnights and a major decline in sales. Many hoteliers in the audience confirmed the study’s conclusions.

The workshop in Volos was part of  the series entitled “Hotel Marketing in the modern tourism market in Greece” aimed at the detailed briefing and training of hoteliers of 15 major Greek destinations.