Applications Open for Seasonal Hotels Subsidy in Greece

Hotel operations in Greece wishing to remain open in winter can now apply for state subsidies going towards their staffing needs to the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) through to March 23.

Hotel facilities that have until now opened for a specific period of time (usually in summer) are eligible to participate in OAED’s “Program of Seasonal Hotel Business Subsidies for the Preservation of Jobs in the Winter 2017-2018 Period”, which aims to fund employment positions in the winter season and thus allow for the business operation in that time, specifically during the November 1-February 28 period.

The applicants must meet the following requirements:

– Hotels should be operating outside the Attica region and the city of Thessaloniki.

– Hotels should have a Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) license.

– Hotels should be seasonal: having interrupted operation between November 1 and February 28 for at least two years over the 2012-2016 period. Facilities that have participated in at least one of the previous winter job protection programs or are new hotel businesses (from 1/1/2016) can also apply for the grants. Hotel facilities which started operations after November 1, 2016 are not entitled to the funding.

Applications can be submitted online at www.oaed.gr through to March 23, noon.

It must be noted, that seasonal character of Greek tourism affects employment rates. Indicatively, there were 92,132 new job openings in April 2017 – the start of the tourist season – and 98,420 lost jobs in October, at the end of the season.

For more information (in Greek), press here.