Backed by almost half a century of experience in hosting
international visitors, as well as the Greek reputation for
hospitality, major hotel chains and medium-to-small size units
in the Greek capital have embarked on extensive upgrades and
long-term renovation programmes in preparation for the Athens
2004 Olympics.
The Athens Stock Exchange's impressive performance of recent
years has prompted several hotel groups to apply for listing
on the bourse. Both domestic and foreign investor interest
in the developing Greek market have given companies the means
to raise share capital and fund the sizeable investments in
improving the city's accommodation infrastructure.
International brand-name hotels entered the competition at
an early stage - the Athenaeum Inter-Continental is close
to completing a comprehensive renovation - while top industry
players, including Grecotel, purchased centrally - located
units and remodelled them entirely.
Almost all units have given themselves a professional makeover,
aiming to draw more tourists with eclectic tastes to the capital
and, above all, to lure the business traveller and conference
organisers. Executive floors, business centres and the concept
of "an office in your hotel room" have become almost standard
features for Athens hotels.
State incentives
Meanwhile, the development
ministry and the Hellenic Tourism Organisation have encouraged the hotel
sector to modernise their establishments through financial
incentives and government policies which aim to raise the
overall quality of the tourism industry.
Development law 2741/1999 allows for the distribution of
state subsidies to companies wishing to upgrade their properties.
Furthermore, the government, together with industry representatives,
is working on a star-rating system for hotels, based on the
international standard and due for implementation by the end
of the year. In an effort to guarantee quality in tourist
services, a presidential decree has already been drafted on
the "key" rating system for the country's rented rooms and
apartments, which make up 50% of all tourist accommodation.
Of beds and stars
In a 1999 study, theTourism Research Institute (ITEP) confirmed
that the Attica region has more than sufficient beds to accommodate
Olympic visitors and that new hotels are not required. The
study, once again, placed emphasis on raising the standards
of the
capital's existing units so that they meet the requirements
of four-star, five-star and deluxe categories.
Nonetheless, the number of hotel beds in Attica is
expected to rise from 70,000 to 85,000 by 2004. An additional
39,000 beds outside Attica (yet close to Athens), 26,000 in
rented houses and rooms as well as 5,000 on cruise-ships will
further supplement this figure. ITEP estimates 154,500 beds
will be available, which more than covers an expected need
of 128,500. Athens has more beds than Barcelona did and the
same number as Sydney has today.
Athens hoteliers have agreed to set aside 80% of the
capital's beds to accommodate the Olympic family during the
Games. A contract, guaranteeing room availability, will be
signed by hoteliers and the government before the end of the
year 2000. Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said
it was the first time such a contract would be signed four
years ahead of the Olympics. "We want the Games to lead to
what we call 'pre-Olympic tourist traffic'. We hope tourists
will be attracted by the various events which will be organised
and that this rise in arrivals becomes permanent," he added.
