Visitors Give Thessaloniki Thumbs Up for Infrastructure, Services

Visitors to the northern port city of Thessaloniki are all the more satisfied with accommodation and services, according to research released recently by the Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA).

From left to right: Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA) general secretary Andreas Mandrinos, GBR Consulting managing consultant Stefan Merkenhof, THA president Aristotelis Thomopoulos and THA vice president Konstantinos Tornivoukas.

The findings of the survey, which was carried out jointly with GBR Consulting, were presented by THA president Aristotelis Thomopoulos and GBR managing consultant Stefan Merkenhof.

According to the study, the market is showing more trust in Thessaloniki as a destination and visitors are making it a leading city break with 94 percent of Greek visitors and 91 percent of foreigners saying they would recommend Thessaloniki to their peers, thus reflecting their overall satisfaction with the city’s tourism offerings.

At the same time, approximately 93 percent of those traveling for pleasure and 89 percent for business said they would return to Thessaloniki without second thought.

GBR Consulting managing consultant Stefan Merkenhof.

Mr Thomopoulos was quick to point out, however, that the financial figures concerning the city’s hotels are unsatisfactory, both with regard to room rates and revenue per available room. On a positive note, guests expressed their trust in the city’s hotel infrastructure.

Mr Merkenhof added that though Thessaloniki scored lower in terms of occupancy compared to other European cities, it can boost occupancy levels, particularly in view of the high scores in infrastructure satisfaction, by tapping into the diverse tourism experiences it can offer.

“Thessaloniki’s entertainment, culture and people are its strongest features, combined with itscharm and gastronomy,” MrMerkenhof added.