Greece’s Sustainability-based Hotel Rating System Moving Forward

Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Technical Chamber of Greece President Giorgos Stasinos and Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

A new hotel rating system in Greece, grounded in sustainability principles, is making significant progress. This initiative, a joint proposal by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Technical Chamber of Greece, aims to classify hotels based on their environmental and social impact, offering a fresh approach to sustainable tourism.

First presented in August, the proposed system evaluates hotels according to specific sustainability criteria, focusing on their social and environmental footprint. Currently, both chambers are collaborating to finalize the criteria and underlying studies for this innovative framework.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced on Wednesday that the new rating system has been included in the Tourism Ministry’s forthcoming legislative bill, set to enter public consultation in the coming days.

During a meeting with Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos and Technical Chamber of Greece President Giorgos Stasinos, Kefalogianni lauded the initiative.

“This is a pioneering and globally innovative proposal,” said Kefalogianni. “It provides a holistic approach to addressing modern environmental challenges within Greek hospitality.”

Photo source: Tourism Ministry

According to the minister, the system serves as a roadmap for enhancing sustainability, viability, and resilience within the hotel sector, aligning with the ministry’s strategy to promote sustainable and high-quality tourism development in Greece.

“Sustainable tourism development is a strategic priority for the Tourism Ministry,” Kefalogianni highlighted. “We will move quickly to institutionalize this proposal, which integrates sustainability principles and supports national and European climate objectives. This initiative is a global first.”