Hotels & Accommodations

Greek hoteliers are not ready to adopt the automatic star categorization system suggested by government quarters: Government wants hoteliers to declare a star system category for their units by year-end through a simple signed declaration.

The recent increase in new hotels in the Attica area is responsible for the reduction in overnights by member units of the Attica Hoteliers Association, according to the Academy of Tourism Research and Studies.

Greek hoteliers continue efforts to pressure government quarters to change depreciation rates for tax purposes from 4% to the 8% it was some two years ago. Representatives from Greek Hotel Chamber and the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises say they are very disappointed that Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos have not kept their promises to return the rate to 8%.

Greece’s national economy ministry last month urged banks to initiate a program of “good faith” concerning all rules of law that concern old loans owed to them by Greek hoteliers.

Sabre Travel Network brings to Europe its Sabre Exclusives hotels program, which was launched in the U.S. last year. The company will negotiate discounted rates with participating hotels and make these available through the Sabre global distribution system to its network of travel agency customers.

An innovative pilot project, supported by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), could revolutionize travel in the U.S. by maximizing security while minimizing inconveniences imposed on travelers.

Sometimes, not often, publications receive promotional material that makes the reader sit up and take notice. Over the years Greek Travel Pages has received carloads of various Greek tourism-related brochures and publications from both home and abroad. Last month the publication picked up what it considers Greece’s most stylish, rich and almost perfectly designed and produced tourism publication, which was created by the hotel Grande Bretagne.

The Athens-based Airotel group renames its Riva unit after the group’s founder, Stratos Vasilikos. The Stratos Vasilikos Hotel on Mihalako-poulou, after being closed for a radical renovation program, will reopen in the early part of next year, in lots of time for the 2004 Games.

Hotel Study 2003, which has just been released by JBR Hellas, shows that the gross operating profit of Greek hotels last year dropped by some four points. Resort and first-class units are reportedly down even more by 5-10%.

For the first five months of this year, overnight stays in the Athens region dropped by 16% when compared with the same period last year, according to the latest statistics released by the Attica Hoteliers’ Association. The greatest loss in stays occurred at the capital’s luxury units, but the association believes that next year’s Games, along with the implementation of the Attica Prefecture’s advertising and promotion program, and the completion of the many tourism-related infrastructure works, will turn the tide before the end of the year.