‘Tourism Awards 2016’ Spotlight Shines on Greece’s Best Practices

The best practices of Greek companies and organizations in all sectors of travel, hospitality and leisure and initiatives that encourage innovation and the quality of Greek tourism were rewarded on Wednesday, April 6, at the glitzy awards ceremony of the Tourism Awards 2016.

The event took place in the Banquet Hall of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall and was hosted by Greek presenters Mary Synatsaki and Dimitris Ougarezos.

Over 650 executives and Greek tourism figures attended the event, while the ceremony attracted over 1,000 viewers via live streaming on the Tourism Awards website.

In its third year, the awards covered initiatives from strategy and innovation to destination management, as well as the best practices applied in regards to hotel experience and architecture tourism projects.

Tourism Awards judging committee president Nikos Skoulas.

This year’s awards saw a huge increase of 33 percent in the number of companies that applied to participate, proving the importance and recognition of the awards throughout the industry.

One of the new categories that stood out for the number of applications it attracted was that of “Hotels & Resorts”, in which small and large units from all over Greece were rewarded.

All applications were evaluated by a 27-member judging committee chaired by former tourism minister, Nikos Skoulas. Among the members of the judging committee were academics, subject-matter experts and eminent personalities with experience in the hospitality sector.

Honorary awards

Honorary awards were given to deserving individuals and institutions for their contribution to the promotion and development of the Greek tourism industry:

• Classical Archaeology Professor Dr Stephen Miller for his contribution to the country’s archaeological tourism

• Yiorgos Pittas for his contribution to Greek gastronomy and tourism

• Sofia Kalantidou, F & B Manager, for her contribution to Greek gastronomy

• Nikos Sarantos, Executive Chef, for his contribution to Greek gastronomy

• Volunteers of the City of Athens’ program “This is My Athens”, run by the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency

• Christopher Papakaliatis, acclaimed Greek director and actor, for promoting Greece through the movie “Another World”

A selection of Tourism Awards 2016 winners

• K. Benakopoulos Group – Anemi Hotel Folegandros, AthensWas
  Silver Tourism Award for Boutique hotel / resort – Anemi Hotel Folegandros (Category: Hotels & Resorts)
  Gold Tourism Award for City hotel – AthensWas (Category: Hotels & Resorts)

• Astir Beach
  Gold Tourism Award for best beach concept in Greece with innovative design (Category: Destination Management – Organized beach)

• BK Telematics – Maroulis Travel
  Bronze Tourism Award for Cost-saving technology for booking, scheduling, rostering, monitoring platform-b-SRM (Category: Technology / Automation)

• Blue Star Ferries
  Gold Tourism Award for First Aid Program (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Support local communities Actions / CSR)

• Caldera Yachting – Santorini Luxury Cruises
  Gold Tourism Award for Customer Services (Category: Travel & Transportation)

• Celestyal Cruises
  – Gold Tourism Award for Themed Cruises of History & Cultural Heritage (Category: Specialty Travel / Culture Tourism)
  – Silver Tourism Award for Contribution to the National Economy (Category: Strategy & Innovation Tourism Development/ Contribution to the National Economy)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for Social Media Strategy & Results (Category: Digital Tourism / Social media usage)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for HR Program (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Selection, rewarding & development of staff)

• Civitel Olympic
  Silver Tourism Award for “A Modern Focus in Corporate Athens” (Category: Hotels & Resorts – Business hotel)

• Costa Navarino
  – Gold Tourism Award for sustainable development standard (Category: Strategy & Innovation – Tourism development / Contribution to the national or local economy)
  – Silver Tourism Award for ΤEMES – Costa Navarino in cooperation with Alexia Charoupa, Bachelor Thesis supervised by Assistant Professor Betty Tsakarestou, Panteion University.: THE STORYTELLING HOTEL BEST PRACTICE (Category: Strategy & Innovation – Research and writings on tourism)
  – Silver Tourism Award for ALBA Graduate Business School – Costa Navarino: MSc in Tourism Management & Strategic Partnership with Costa Navarino (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Education programs and specialization / Connecting education & labor market)

• Dinner in the Sky Greece
  Bronze Tourism Award for Restaurant Concept (Category: Gastronomy)

• Eagles Palace Hotel – m-hospitality
  Gold Tourism Award for “Eagles Palace Hotel, keyless door opening via our mobile app” (Category: Technology / Automation – Innovative use of technology)

• Globe One Digital / Bond Events
  Gold Tourism Award for “Bond Events are performing intelligent!” (Category: Digital Tourism – Search engine and techniques usage)

• Grace Santorini
  Bronze Tourism Award for Best Personalized Guest Services (Category: Hotel Experience)

• Grand Resort Lagonissi
  Silver Tourism Award for Best Luxury hotel/resort (Category: Hotels & Resorts)

• GTP Headlines
  Silver Tourism Award for “extroversion in providing tourism information” (Category: Digital Tourism – Online Presence & Communication)

• Hilton Athens
  Gold Tourism Award for Best Business hotel in Athens (Category: Hotels & Resorts – Business hotel)

• HotelBrain
  – Gold Tourism Award for Best Hotel Management, Development & Consulting (Category: Strategy & Innovation)
  – Gold Tourism Award for the Archipelagos Luxury Hotel in Mykonos for Best Personalized Guest Services (Category: Hotel Experience)
  – Gold Tourism  Award for the Tainaron Blue Retreat in Mani for Best Hotel Design of the Year (Category: Architecture & Interior Design)
  – Silver Τourism Award for Varos Village in Lemnos for Tourism Development/Contribution to the local/national economy (Category: Strategy & Innovation)
  – Silver Τourism Award for Casa del Mar in Mykonos for Luxury Villas – Chalets (Category: Hotels & Resorts)
  – Silver Τourism Award for Thalatta Seaside Hotel in Evia for Personalized Guest Services (Category: Hotel Experience)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for Colours of Mykonos in Mykonos for Hotel Residences (Category: Hotels & Resorts)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for Mystery Skiathos Luxury Residence in Skiathos for “Sustainable Architecture – Integration into the natural landscape” (Category: Architecture & Interior Design)
  – Bronze Tourism Award (with publishing company Brainbuzz Media Consulting) for the hotel magazine Bill & Coo Suites & Lounge in Mykonos (Category: Corporate identity / corporate reputation / Branding Management – Advertising campaign / Media promotion)

• Marketing Greece & Athens International Airport
  Gold Tourism Award for campaign “I am an Athenian. Speak Athenian. Be an Athenian” (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Integrated Marketing Campaign)

• Matsuhisa Athens – Astir Palace
  Gold Tourism Award for Best Fusion Japanese restaurant in Greece (Category: Gastronomy – Excellence or Innovation in F&B sector)

• Mideast Travel Worldwide
  Bronze Tourism Award for Leading P.C.O. in Greece (Category: Specialty Travel – Conference Tourism – MICE)

• Navigator Travel & Tourist Services Ltd
  Bronze Tourism Award for Sustainable Tourism (Category: Sustainability / Facilities Μanagement – Initiatives to protect the environment / Public awareness / Monitoring of environmental indicators)

• Nelios
  – Gold Tourism Award for Best Online presence and Communication for the Poseidonion Grand Hotel (Category: Digital Tourism)
  – Silver Tourism Award for the Hands Free Hotelier by Axia Hospitality & Nelios (Category: Strategy & Innovation – Innovative concept, product, operating model or service provider / Start-up)
  – Silver Tourism Award for Athens Authentic Marathon (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Support local communities Actions / CSR)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for Walk Athens (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Support local communities Actions / CSR)
  – Bronze Tourism Award for Seajets (Category: Digital Tourism – Machine Utilization & Technical Search)

• OUT OF THE BLUE, Capsis Elite Resort
  Silver Tourism Award for Luxury hotel / resort (Category: Hotels & Resorts)

• Region of Crete and SEGAS
  Gold Tourism Award for the international campaign for the organization of the European Championship of National Track Teams 2015: “Athletics in the land of culture: Our national team needs you… Crete invites you” (Category: Specialty Travel – Sports Tourism)

• Superfast Ferries / Attica Group
  Silver Tourism Award for “20 Years SUPERFAST FERRIES” (Category: Branding / Public Relations / People Strategy – Corporate identity / corporate reputation management / Branding)

• SWOT (Simple Way of Tourism)
  Silver Tourism Award for Developing partnerships and implementing investment strategies (Category: Strategy & Innovation – Strategic Investment / Cooperation / Development)

• Travelotopos
  Bronze Tourism Award for Travelotopos booking engine for tourism industry (Category: Technology / Automation – Best new solution for tourism)

• Travelworks Public Relations – NJV Athens Plaza
  Bronze Tourism Award for “NJV Athens Plaza – Communicating a city hotel through Social Media” (Category: Digital Tourism – Social media usage)

• Turkish Airlines
  Gold Tourism Award for “Turkish Airlines in Greece” (Category: Travel & Transportation – New Destinations / Improving accessibility / Increase incoming tourism)

• Visit Meteora
  Gold Tourism Award for “Visit Meteora DMC” (Category: Destination Management – Promotion of natural beauty / cultural interest)

To see the whole list of winners of the Tourism Awards 2016, press here.

The Tourism Awards were organized by Boussias Communications and Hotel & Restaurant magazine and held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

GTP was among the main communication sponsors of the event.

Photo Source: Boussias Communications/Hotel & Restaurant magazine