Carnival Weekend a Welcome Boost for Greek Hoteliers

Photo source: Patras Carnival official website (carnivalpatras.gr)

The three-day Carnival weekend which culminates on Clean Monday (February 27) is expected to bring a much-needed injection to hotel enterprises in Greece with pre-bookings on an upward trend.

According to the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX), bookings for the February 25-27 weekend at popular winter destinations in Greece are “satisfactory” with Carnival favorites like the coastal town of Patra already fully booked.

Greek hoteliers said this week that occupancy levels are on the rise for both Carnival season weekends and particularly at destinations organizing events. A decisive factor, they say, is the weather.

Photo source: Patras Carnival official website (carnivalpatras.gr)

Favorite Carnival destinations include the wider area of Xanthi, Ioannina, Drama, Kalavryta, Rethymno, Pozar Thermal Springs, Corinthia, Western Macedonia and especially Kozani, where occupancy levels are expected to range between 80 and 100 percent. Thessaloniki, Komotini, and Alexandroupoli follow.

For the Clean Monday weekend, Greeks are booking two-night stays with average room rates higher by 10 percent over last year.

On the downside, tourist flows during the week and after the Carnival season comes to a close are still low.

According to the federation’s member hotels, occupancy levels in the period up to the March 25 National Holiday are still at 50 percent.