By Vickys Kourlibini
Last year, hotels in the central Athens sector alone increased by 4% and hotel rooms by 3% compared to 2020, despite reduced demand and closed hotels in the first five months due to the pandemic. The largest increase in units is observed in the 5-star category (+17%), followed by the 4-star category (+7%). In hotel rooms, the 4-star category had the largest increase (+6%), followed by the 5-star category (+4%). The 3 and 1 star categories showed no growth.
These are some of the findings from research into the capital’s tourism performance by GBR Consulting. Based on its analysis of hotels slated to open, the pipeline shows about 2,500 rooms were under construction, not counting hotel projects under consideration and the roughly 2,500 rooms planned for the Elliniko project.
In addition, in the period 2016-2021, the largest increase in hotels is observed in the central area of ​​Athens (+24%), as shown by the data of the study elaborated by INSETE. During the same period hotel rooms in the center of the capital increased by 17%.
Demand for Athens is up
Demand is coming back strongly for Athens this year and this is also evident from the seat planning on flights from abroad. Figures from travel data measurement company OAG show that scheduled seats on inbound international flights to Athens in 2022 are up 61% compared to 2021.
Airline bookings in 2022 compared to 2021 also show that Athens has the fourth highest change rate after Madrid, Barcelona and Rome.
It is also characteristic that the planned seats from Germany – which is the most important tourist and revenue market for Greek tourism – have increased by 75% this year compared to 2020.
In an interview, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, regarding the recovery of tourism in Attica and Athens, noted that it was the main bet of the policy that was developed as “Attica and the capital account for half of the country’s GDP and since 2008 it has faced many problems, with incidents in marches, then with the memorandums, with the “indignant”. The image of the Athenian Riviera with the investments being made, but also of the city center with all the hotels and shops of health interest being full, is indeed impressive,” he said.
The check-ins of the capital
Among the new projects in the Athens hotel market that have been implemented in recent months, the new investment of Lampsa in Syntagma, “Athens Capital Hotel – MGallery”, at the junction of Panepistimiou and Kriezotou streets, stands out, worth 25 million euros. Brown’s Israeli investments in Omonia, the conversion of the Saroglio Mansion at 65 Stadiou Street in Omonia into a luxury hotel, under the international brand of Moxy, which belongs to the Marriott group, by Dimand and Prodea Investments, “Xenodocheio Milos” of Intrakat in a listed building on Kolokotroni Street, but also the ongoing reconstruction of the Hilton, amounting to 130 million euros, which includes the creation of the new luxury hotel Conrad which will have 280 rooms and suites and the creation of 50 luxury residences, which will operate under Hilton’s Conrad Residences and Waldorf Astoria Residences brands.
Prices and occupancies
Based on data from the monthly hotel performance survey by EXAAA – GBR Consulting, during 2021, Athens recorded 43% occupancy TRI (“Total Room Inventory”, where it is assumed that all hotel rooms were available on the market) compared to 21% in 2020 and 78% in 2019 (standard), while ADR reached 95 euros in 2021, compared to 72 euros in 2020 and 106 euros in 2019.
Comparing Athens to other Mediterranean cities, Athens had a slower start during 2021 in terms of occupancy due to lockdowns, but performed better in the June – October period, similar to Istanbul’s performance. Compared to some Northwestern European cities, occupancy trends were similar, but Athens performed better in the June-September period.
The profile of tourists coming to Athens
Based on the EXAAA survey conducted by GBR Consulting in 2021, 40% of tourists who visited Athens came with his/her partner. 51% of the tourists visited Athens for the first time, while 57% of the tourists also stayed in other area(s) outside of Athens.
Spending by hotel guests in the city remained stable in 2019-2021 at €115 per person / day.
About half of travelers visited Athens’ beaches, and of those who did, 73% swam. In 2021, Attica had 12 beaches that were awarded a blue flag by the global blue flag organization. Most are located in the area of ​​Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, but also on the eastern coast of Attica. Of those who have not visited the coasts of Athens, 40%-47% do not know that we have attractive coasts based on the analysis of the last 5 years.
As for the Argosaronic islands, they remain largely unknown. In the last 5 years, about 60% do not know Aegina. Hydra is slightly better known but less visited due to its remoteness, while awareness of the other islands remains at a very low level.
97% of foreign tourists wish to visit Athens again, 73% recommend Athens to others and 74% feel there are other things they want to see in Athens.
Source: Capital
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