Σάββατο 11 Μαρτίου 2023

Let the natural light to wake up you and fill your day with joy.

Let the natural light to wake up you and fill your day with joy.

We are Eleni and George, owners of Plakias Suites, with 12 years of experience in the field of hospitality, we have found that Luxury is not only what we see, luxury is a state, it is an experience. It's all about attention to detail. 

It's everything from the feel, the smell, the food to the customer service.

Plakias Suites is the proof that luxury is judged in the small details, in the simple pleasures, in the fine amenities offered and in the excellent service. There is a soul in this accommodation, that's why we have paid attention to everything. 

We collaborated with the Greek company COCO-MAT  whose philosophy is based on the exclusive use of natural materials to create harmonious spaces, where each object has a specific use, but also contributes to the preservation of physical and mental peace of the user. COCO-MAT's Interior Design team has equipped each our residence with the necessary furniture, bedding and utility items, all made with natural materials such as cotton, silk, coconut fiber, natural rubber, herbs (eucalyptus, lavender), goose down, wool.

Tripadvisor: Two Beaches on Crete Among 25 Best in the World for 2023

 

Two beaches located on the Greek island of Crete – Falassarna and the Balos Lagoon – have been included on the Travelers’ Choice 2023 Best of the Best Beaches Awards list released recently by Tripadvisor.

Every year, Tripadvisor awards travelers’ favorite destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants, and things to do around the world, based on the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews on the platform.

For 2023, according to Tripadvisor, the Falassarna beach, located on the eastern side of Crete, is the World’s 21st Best Beach and Europe’s 6th best with reviewers hailing its crystal clear waters and pink sand.

Furthermore, Crete’s Balos Lagoon (northwest of the town of Chania) ranked 25th in the World’s Best Beaches list and 8th in Europe’s Best Beaches list with Tripadvisor’s users calling it a “landscape from another planet”.

TripAdvisor’s Europe’s Top 25 Beaches list also includes another two Greek beaches – the Sarakiniko beach on Milos in the 17th place and Kalamaki beach on Zakynthos in the 18th.

(read more gtp)

Study: Islands Give Greece Advantage in Tourism Over Rivals

 The Greek islands are giving Greece a head start over its main tourism rivals setting solid foundations for the tourist season ahead, said the National Bank of Greece (NBG) in its latest “Business Trends” study.

More specifically, NBG analysts expect Greece to make a strong comeback this year on the back of increasing tourist flows in 2022 and in view of strong pre-bookings and intent for travel.


Greek hotels saw autumn sales exceed pre-Covid 2019 levels by 24 percent driven in large part by overnight stays which recouped 97 percent of 2019 levels, enabling hotels to gain a larger market share with international customers accounting for 60 percent of all stays over 57 percent in 2019.

In the meantime, sales per night were up by 27 percent compared to 2019, reflecting the quality and variety of services offered.

According to NBG analysts, the improved services which in turn boosted profitability have set Greek hotels apart from those in rival destinations and led to an increase in their share of Mediterranean overnight stays by 1 percentage point (18.5 percent in autumn 2022 compared to 17.5 percent in autumn 2019).

At the same time, Greek hotels also saw their revenues per night increase more compared to their competitors while operating profitability in 2022 was stronger by 20-35 percent on average compared to 2019.

Other key takeaways of the NBG report include:

– the Greek islands managed to keep tourists comeing off season marking a 13 percent increase in sales in the autumn compared to 2019

– leading the way as autumn destinations were the South Aegean islands and Crete

– road arrivals took a toll on mainland destination figures which were down by 5 percent in constant prices compared to autumn 2019

– the number of arrivals from Germany, the UK, France, and the US were up by 11 percentage points, with the UK leading the way marking a 43 percent increase in arrivals compared to 2019

– Greece is a highly sought-after destination cited as the first choice for a next trip to Europe by 5.8 percent of Europeans this year (compared to 4.4 percent in 2022)

– early bookings are 70 percent higher so far this year compared to 2022

– scheduled air seats for the first weeks of March are 11 percent higher compared to last year proving that the tourist season has been extended beyond the traditional summer months

– also reflecting a longer tourist season, October 2022 managed to reach 60 percent of September arrivals compared to 54 percent in 2019.

Looking ahead, NBG analysts are expecting a robust year in tourism citing a strong intent for travel despite the cost-of-living crisis. They go on to add that consumer confidence in key source markets for Greece appears to be recovering supporting intent for travel from within the EU and abroad.

On the downside, the report refers to geopolitical tensions, soaring energy prices which may impact hotel operational costs and the shortage of staff.

(source:gtp)

Spinalonga Leprosy Center to Be Converted into Exhibition Space

As part of ongoing works to restore the islet of Spinalonga, located in the Elounda Gulf northeastern Crete, the Greek Culture Ministry announced recently that it would be moving ahead with repairs to the leprosy center, the hospital and the dormitories which will be converted into exhibition spaces.

Spinalonga island was a leper colony between 1903 and 1957. Greece has taken actions for its inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.

“The islet of Spinalonga, an important fortress complex from the period of the Venetian occupation but also a space marred by harsh memories from the period the islet functioned as a Leprosy Center, has been a priority for the ministry,” said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

The minister referred to the restoration works and to designs aimed at showcasing the island’s buildings as well as actions taken to make it accessible to people with disabilities.


The main hospital building will be converted into a multiuse space for temporary exhibitionsconferences and events and will include a café and visitor service area. All buildings will be accessible to people with disabilities using ramps and elevators. Other projects include the upgrade of the ticket center and sales point. Once completed, the restored buildings will feature art shows and exhibitions focusing on the history of the island.

“The island is a symbol of human will and the struggle for a better future,” said Mendoni, underlining the importance of recreating the history of the buildings from the 16th century to the 20th century (1957) when the leprosy center closed and the stories of the people who lived and worked there.

(GTP)

Τετάρτη 4 Ιανουαρίου 2023

Greek Tourism in 2022 ‘What a Success’, Hails ECTAA

Greek tourism has experienced a record – breaking year with almost 30 million visitors in 2022, according to a recent announcement by the European Travel Agents & Tour Operators Association (ECTAA).

ECTAA attributes the country’s success to its status as “a high-quality, safe and well-prepared destination”, attracting travelers to visit branded and alternative areas of interest during both summer and off-peak seasons.

The association, which represents some 70,000 travel agents and tour operators in Europe, actively promoted Greece as its preferred travel destination during 2022 thanks to a partnership agreement with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

The deal also saw the organization of two ECTAA conferences in Chania and Thessaloniki, as well as the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance’s (WTAAA) first in-person General Assembly held in Athens with delegates coming from all five continents.

During these meetings, ECTAA members praised the Greek government’s actions to expand sustainable tourism; the light shed on the diversity of travel and tourism products that the country offers, and the expansion of the tourism period supported by an ECTAA – led webinar titled “Greece has a winter too.”

“Greece’s success is not a surprise,” said ECTAA’s Secretary General Eric Drésin, adding that during this year, the country fully realized the global need to travel sustainably and all tourism – related stakeholders remained committed to provide the best possible services to their guests.

According to Greek government officials, industry experts and analysts, Greece is on track to yield record high revenues of 20 billion euros this year, exceeding pre – pandemic levels.

source gtp

Τρίτη 3 Ιανουαρίου 2023

Greece is Fast Becoming a Top Location for Digital Nomads

 The Greek Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers and online entrepreneurs to stay for up to two years


The Greek Digital Nomad Visa was created to encourage remote workers and online entrepreneurs to visit Greece more frequently and potentially stay for longer periods of time. 

The hope is that these professionals will bring their skills and expertise to the country, boosting the economy and enriching the local culture. According to a study by the MIT Enterprise Forum, attracting just 100,000 digital nomads to Greece for a period of six months could benefit the economy by approximately €1.6 billion.

This visa aims to take advantage of the growing trend of remote work, which has been facilitated by advances in communications technology and was further fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were unable to attend in-person workplaces.

Greece has traditionally been a popular tourist destination, but the country has not always been as welcoming to remote work. A study by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) found that only 5% of the Greek workforce was working from home in 2019, which was well behind other EU countries at the time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in remote work, and the Greek government is now hoping to take advantage of this trend by making it easier for digital nomads to obtain visas and work from anywhere in the country.

source: proto thema , travel.gr