Greek Hoteliers and Tour Operators at Odds Over Covid-19 Cancelations

Greek hoteliers are calling on Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis to resolve payment and booking issues that have arisen in the aftermath of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a letter to Theoharis on Friday, the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) is claiming that tour operators have stopped making early booking payments and are terminating their contracts, requesting at the same time that hotel businesses offer significant discounts for the current season and to provide credit.

According to POX, tour operators are additionally demanding that they reimburse bookings 60 days from customer departure and are seeking to include these terms in contracts to be signed in 2021.

“These conditions cannot be met, much less so in the midst of the current crisis, given the huge financial problems our businesses are already faced with and due to the increased operating costs of the new health measures we will be called on to implement when we reopen,” said POX.

Given the fact that tour operators have already been reimbursed for their sales, hoteliers will be requesting advance payments for each booking seven to 14 days ahead of the arrival date of each customer, said POX, adding that it had the support of other related accommodation bodies in this decision.