Thessaloniki Overnight Stays Edge Up in Jan-Aug 2018

The landmark “Umbrellas” sculpture in Thessaloniki. Photo Source: Thessaloniki Hotels Association

The number of overnight stays at hotels in Thessaloniki edged up in the first eight months of 2018 compared to the same period last year, the Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA) said this week.

According to the THA report carried out by GBR Consulting, the number of Greek visitors to the northern port city increased slightly by 0.70 percent to 725,972 overnight stays against 720,951 in the same period in 2017, accounting for a smaller share of total overnight stays compared to foreign travelers.

In terms of source markets, the THA report ranked Israeli visitors at the top (from 3rd spot among 20) in terms of overnight stays to 111,008 from 56,167 in the same eight-month period last year, marking a 97.64 percent rise. Cypriot travelers follow with 94,366 stays recording a 1.83 percent drop, with German tourists in the third spot, making 57,965 overnight stays – a 4.21 percent increase.

Holidaymakers from Italy, the UK and Holland marked impressive increases in the eight-month period by 25.31 percent or 51,859 overnight stays, 15.85 percent to 34,124, and 18.99 percent to 16,007, respectively.

Thessaloniki, Greece. Photo Source: @Thessaloniki Hotels Association

Meanwhile, GBR’s monthly findings indicate that for the first eight months of 2018, there was a 6.2 percent increase in average room rate (ARR) and an 8.7 percent rise in revenue per available room (RevPar) to 51.38 euros compared to a year ago.

Despite the slight improved performance in 2018, Thessaloniki is still ranked last among 10 European cities of the same size (Antwerp, Birmingham, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Budapest, Hamburg, Manchester, Salzburg) with regard to RevPar and ARR.