Greek Hoteliers Chief ‘Rings Alarm Bell’ for Covid-19 Consequences on Sector

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) President Grigoris Tasios on Thursday described the harsh reality that thousands of Greek hotel enterprises are facing in their struggle for survival while up against the many consequences of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Speaking during the federation’s general assembly in Thessaloniki, Tasios referred to Greek companies that “fought with great losses” to support the opening of tourism.

According to recent data by ITEP, 6,027 hotels opened in unprecedented conditions and some 4,000 remained closed after Greece’s Covid-19 lockdown was lifted.

“We did our best, above all we protected the health of the country and we secured the right to hope for a better next season… Hoteliers this year did not win in the tourism season, they lost,” he said.

Tasios said that “hotels in Greece must manage to survive” in order for the sector to move forward; for Greek tourism to exist in 2021; for the country’s SMEs, directly or indirectly related to the tourism product, to survive; for the state to collect revenue; and for jobs to be available, especially for the new generation.

“The absence of liquidity threatens to diminish the sacrifices of a lifetime,” he said, calling for the government to provide a source of liquidity to the sector’s businesses.

“Government decisions will determine whether we will write the ‘epilogue’ of Greek hospitality or the ‘preface’ of new successes for the hotel sector and tourism,” Tasios stressed.

The Hellenic Hoteliers Federation’s general assembly was attended by Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos and saw the participation of presidents and representatives from hotel associations from all over Greece.

During the assembly, the outgoing Board of Directors honored hoteliers Aristotelis Thomopoulos (Thessaloniki), Sakellarios Soulounias (Rhodes) and Konstantinos Leventis (Magnesia) for their long-term contribution to the federation.

The Hellenic Hoteliers Federation is now in the process of electing a new Board of Directors. The new Board is expected to be announced on Thursday night.