Hotels & Accommodations

The European Commission has announced the launch of market tests in antitrust investigations by the French, Swedish and Italian competition authorities in the online hotel booking sector.

Thessaloniki’s Olympic Museum and Mediterranean Palace Hotel have embarked on an initiative that aims to simultaneously boost the conference and cultural side of the Greek northern city to a global audience.

Tour operators and travel agents in Europe have joined Greek tourism professionals in their request to the Greek Government to not increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate for hotel accommodation from 6.5 percent at present to 13 percent.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) announced its plans to tap into the Chinese market on Wednesday using China’s leading search engine as its primary tool.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni expressed reservations about the effectiveness of the increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate for hotel accommodation from 6.5 percent at present to 13 percent.

The Council of the European Union has agreed on a “general approach” for the reform of the Travel Package Directive, amending the European Commission’s earlier proposals. The “general approach” is on the basis of a compromise text prepared by the Italian Presidency.

Accommodation professionals are calling on Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to step in and withdraw a recent proposal to increase value added tax (VAT) on hotel accommodation from the current 6.5 percent to 13 percent.

The European Council will adopt a general approach on the revision of the Package Travel Directive during the Competitiveness Council held on Thursday. The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA) and HOTREC, the European association representing the hospitality industry, state that the rushed adoption will be harmful to the entire travel industry.

Luxury Ioannina-based hotel Epirus Palace welcomes Michelin Star-winning chef Ettore Botrini as its new consulting chef and announces the official opening of its “I Cappuccini” concept bar-restaurant, aiming to become the region’s talk of the town.

Greek tourism professionals are up in arms over the government’s intention to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate for hotel accommodation from 6.5 percent at present to 13 percent. The news has caused a number of reactions from Greek tourism bodies, hotel associations and business organizations.