Attica Hotel Revenue Down in Jan-Sep 2009

Hotels in Attica saw their average hotel occupancy rates drop by 13.62 percent, 9.26 percent and 9.25 percent in five-, four- and three-star hotels respectively during the first nine months of 2009, according to recently announced figures of the monthly study of GBR Consulting.

The study showed that the prices of five-, four- and three-star hotels fell by 9.71 percent, 10 percent and 2.62 percent respectively, which led to revenue losses per available room by 22.07 percent, 18.30 percent and 11.70 percent respectively for these three hotel categories.

“The figures are exactly what we had predicted for 2009,” said the Athens-Attica Hotel Association in an announcement.

The association stressed that it expects the new government to directly resolve chronic issues in the hotel sector.

The hotel association underlined the need to launch direct actions and decisions that would support “city break” tourism for the benefit of Athens’ tourism.

The lifting of the cabotage law that forbids foreign flag cruise ships to homeport in Greece was once again mentioned by the association and underlined as “one of the new government’s top priorities.” (By lifting the cabotage law hotel bookings in Athens for pre- and post cruise stopovers would increase.)

In regards to the Greek capital’s promotion, the association called for the involvement of the private sector as it is implemented in competitive countries such as France and Spain.

In addition, the association once again brought up the issue of safety in Athens center (illegal immigration, criminal networks and rampant crime) and said the city that hosted the 2004 Olympic Games can not afford any more defamation.