Hotrec: Quality, Variety of Local Cuisine Lands Greece Among Europe’s Top 3 Foodie Destinations

Greece is in the top three European destinations with regards to overall quality and variety of local food and cuisine, according to a survey released this week by Hotrec.

The survey was carried out by TCI Research on behalf of Hotrec – the umbrella association of national trade associations representing European hotels, restaurants, cafés and similar establishments.

Greece comes after Sweden and Italy in terms of overall food quality having collected the best reviews by travelers from across the globe. With regards to variety of local cuisine, Greece comes third after Turkey and Finland.

According to Hotrec, the local food experience affects visitors’ overall satisfaction, making restaurants the perfect venue and opportunity for guests to have a “local experience” while traveling. Using locally produced ingredients, showcasing indigenous flavors and sharing food-related stories with guests, restaurants are seen as great ambassadors of a destination’s sustainability.

This said, European restaurants at lesser known locales are expected to define the authenticity of a destination. The survey goes on to add that foodie tourists – some 120 million – are seeking to immerse themselves in the culture of local cuisine by having restaurant proprietors share info about products and preparation as well as hear stories from the chefs.

“Accommodation and food are two facets that will increasingly impact the overall visitor experience at a destination,” said TCI Research CEO Olivier Henry-Biabaud.

“Having more choices, travelers express a lot of positive expectations from hotels and restaurants, necessitating them to exhibit factors that distinguishes them from their competitors. The survey shows that the hospitality sector is facing lots of opportunities for responding a growing demand of hassle-free and surprising consumer experiences, keeping intact the sense of a truly genuine hospitality.”

The survey conveys messages of optimism for Greece’s tourism, amid intense competition in an out of Europe, according to the president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Georgios Tsakiris. In an announcement, he underlined that Greece’s tourism product is authentic, safe and hospitable, while the country constitutes a top gastronomy destination.

Tsakiris also said the study confirms the chamber’s main objectives which include the establishment of quality standards for all accommodation enterprises through a certification process; the diversification of the hospitality experience through the implementation of the “boutique hotels” label; the promotion of local gastronomy through the “Greek Breakfast” program.