Greek Hotels: Over 53,000 People are ‘Missing’ from Jobs in Hospitality

ITEP President Konstantina Svinou. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

A total of 53,229 job positions in Greek hotels remained unfilled this year, according to data from a study by the Institute of Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP) that was presented during the 11th Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) general assembly in Athens on Saturday.

Referring to challenges Greek hoteliers are called to face, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) President Alexandros Vassilikos stressed on the fact that the sector is unable to find the workforce it needs.

Citing data from ITEP, the chamber’s president said the over 53,000 empty job positions corresponded to 20 percent of the sector’s staffing needs in 2023, which were increased compared to 2022 and 2021.

Presenting the data during the general assembly, ITEP President Konstantina Svinou said that almost 40 percent of Greek hoteliers surveyed stated that they could not fill job positions this year and indeed a third of them could not open – at least in the first months – sections in their hotels.

Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

“This was mainly noticed in hotel bars and restaurants (a hotel that might have three restaurants could not open one) and for a portion of rooms,” Svinou said, adding that some 35 rooms on average were estimated to be closed in hotels with staff shortages.

On her part, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni commented that the lack of employees was one of the most crucial issues that the country’s tourism businesses has to face, especially in the current year.

“This issue – which is not only Greek, but global – is an important structural challenge for the coming years and its solution requires innovative interventions in the labor market,” Kefalogianni said, adding that the government is looking into facilitating the entrance of foreign workers into the country.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

The minister added that another problem that must be faced is the lack of accommodation for people that do go to tourism destinations to work.

“We must look for ways to solve the housing issue,” she said and floated the idea of taking old hotels off the market and turning them into residences for tourism workers.

Speaking on the issue during his speech, the Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE) new president, Yiannis Paraschis, also said the solution to the challenge of finding staff requires interventions in the labor market.

“So that, with programs of attracting, training and continuous improvement of human resources skills, we can respond to new demands and international trends,” he said.

The 11th Hellenic Chamber of Hotels general assembly was held on the sidelines of the Xenia 2023 hospitality trade show at the Metropolitan Expo center.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) was a media sponsor for the chamber’s general assembly and the Xenia 2023 show.