Inspiring Women Retreat: Athens Showcased as Premier City Break Destination to UK Travel Market

Photo source: GNTO

Athens and the Athenian Riviera were highlighted as ideal year-round city break destinations at the inaugural Inspiring Women Retreat, held in Greece in late November.

The event was organized through a collaboration between the United Kingdom & Ireland branch of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Travel Weekly magazine, and supported by Grecotel Group and EasyJet. This retreat builds upon the success of the Inspiring Women lunches, which have been taking place in London since 2022.

The primary objective of the event was to introduce the British tourism industry to the Attica region, showcasing the combination of cultural exploration in Athens’ historic center with a luxury retreat along the Athenian Riviera. The retreat also highlighted Greece’s potential for extending the tourist season through to November.

Photo source: GNTO

Angela Gerekou, President of GNTO, participated in the event, welcoming 30 prominent women from leading travel agencies, tour operators, cruise companies, and airlines across the United Kingdom. Among the attendees were representatives from Jet2, Kuoni, Travel Counsellors, Designer Travel, Celestyal Cruises, Princess Cruises, Advantage Travel Partnership, TTC Group, Intele Travel, and Intrepid.

Elizabeth Filippouli, founder of the Global Thinkers Forum and a noted writer and social entrepreneur, also joined the meeting with international visitors.

Head of GNTO UK & Ireland Eleni Skarveli, Travel Weekly Editor-in-Chief Lucy Huxley, GNTO President Angela Gerekou. Photo source: GNTO

The attendees were hosted at Grecotel hotels in central Athens and along the Athenian Riviera, where they explored the city’s historical landmarks and experienced authentic Greek cuisine at select local restaurants.

During the event, Eleni Skarveli, head of GNTO’s UK & Ireland branch, made valuable connections with key executives from the British travel market, laying the groundwork for future collaborations with Greece.