Athens hoteliers still see no light at the end of the tunnel
Athens hoteliers expect occupancy rates to remain at particularly low levels as a result of the December riots and the adverse economic conjunction. The Athens Hoteliers’ Association expects average occupancy in January and February to drop by 50 to 70 percent compared with the same period last year. Provisional figures for spring show no substantial recovery either. In December the average occupancy rate registered a drop of 50 percent, though in some cases it reached as high as 70 or even 90 percent. The association warns that this winter could lead to serious problems in its members’ survival, with some hotels employing up to 400 staff having just nine rooms occupied. Although the feedback from the government’s recently announced measures for tourism has been positive, hoteliers are concerned about the period until the measures are implemented.
