Updates and Developments for 2019

• Tourism Statistics
• New Flight Routes
• Hotel News
• Tour Operator News
• Cultural News

Tourism Statistics

So far, 2018 has been a record-breaking year for tourism to Greece. It has experienced its best year to date, recording a 15 per cent increase year-on-year in arrivals for all modes of transport, and 17 per cent in revenues for the first seven months. Bookings have continued to be strong throughout the autumn and winter and Greece is forecasting a new all-time record of more than 32 million visitors (including cruise visitors), by the end of the year, a number triple the country's population. 

Air arrivals and bookings are up 9 per cent for 2018 compared to last year and early bookings continue strong for 2019.

New Flight Routes

Ryanair, Jet2 and BA have all announced new flight routes for summer 2019.

Ryanair (Ryanair.com) has announced the launch of a raft of new routes connecting the UK with Greece for summer 2019 (from April-October). These are

• Two flights a week from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Corfu (from £73 one way)
• One flight a week from Southend to Corfu (from £85 one way)
• Two flights a week from Manchester to Thessaloniki (from £53 one way)
• A daily flight from Luton to Athens (from £58)

Jet2 (jet2.com) has announced it will run 140 flights per week to Greece from early May to October 2019, which represents a 20% growth on 2018. New flight routes are

• Six flights a week each from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and London Stansted to Chania, Crete
• One flight a week from Edinburgh to Corfu  
• One flight a week from Birmingham to Kefalonia
• One flight a week from Glasgow to Kos

For 2019 British Airways (ba.com) launches two new seasonal routes to Greece. These are

• Three flights a week from London Gatwick to Kos, from 15th May – 26th The four-hour flight has a lead in price of £70 one way in economy.
• Two flights a week from London Gatwick to Preveza. Just three hours and fifteen minutes from London Gatwick the flight will depart on Wednesday and Sunday with a lead in of £87 one way in economy.

Hotel News

100 Rizes Luxury Seaside Resort, Mani, Peloponnese – due to open May 2019 (100rizesseasideresort.com)

100 Rizes Seaside Resort is a contemporary, sophisticated bolthole created with natural materials and a sympathetic design that echoes the landscape it inhabits.

Located 18 km from Gytheio, the main town in the region of Mani and overlooking a private cove next to Kamares beach the resort is also just 3km away from the historical village of Skoutari. The Beach Resort complex consists of five luxury designed buildings reflecting the region's wild landscape and comprising stone, wood, olive trees and stunning views to both sea and mountains. The interior spaces have a modern aesthetic with luxury facilties and comforts whilst the resort overall mirrors the authentic architecture of the area giving the visitor the impression of a traditional stone village. Providing a unique location for holidaymakers nestled amongst 100 olive groves which overlook the property from their century old history, 100 Rizes Seaside Resort combines the perfect blend of natural environment, traditional Mani architecture and contemporary luxury.

Special opening rates with discounts of 15% are being applied with lead-in rates in May 2019 starting at £82 per suite based on two sharing and including breakfast.

Bianco Olympico Beach Resort, Halkidiki – due to open May 2019 (biancolympico.gr/homeen.html)

Bianco Olympico Beach Resort is located on the Sithonia peninsula of the Halkidiki region, in Northern Greece, offering value for money combined with stunning views of the sparkling Aegean Sea and unforgettable sunsets. Surrounded by lush gardens the three-star property is the perfect hideaway to combine modern, simple accommodation and Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. There are 99 fully renovated rooms, a buffet restaurant, poolside snack bar next to the stunning fresh-water swimming pool and a tennis court and basketball court for those that like to keep busy on holiday!

Olympic Palladium, Rethymno – due to open April 2019 (olympic-hotels-crete.com/)

With a privileged central position in the beautiful city of Rethymnon in the north of Crete, this hotel is situated 302 m from the beach with the entire city accessible in a few minutes. Nearby are the historic quarter, the Fortezza Venetian Castle, Venetian Port and the archeological museum, as well as the public garden, the Neranje Jami, the Krini Rimondi, and the Historic and Laographic Museum. Most rooms offer a magnificent view of the fortress, the harbor, the port and town centre or the beach. When the night falls you can taste Cretan wines accompanied by a collection of cheeses at the Olympic Hotel Bar. The three-star accommodation is simple but modern and ideal for those that want to combine beach time and cultural and historical sites on their holiday.

Antigon Urban Chic Hotel, Thessaloniki – open now (antigonhotel.com/)

This unique five-star boutique hotel is located in the heart of the cosmopolitan yet historical city of Thessaloniki. Greece's second largest city is home to a wealth of heritage and culture but also to a buzzing nightlife and music scene making it the ideal location for a city break. A member of Leading Hotels of the World – the first hotel in Thessaloniki to achieve this - the hotel is situated just minutes from Aristotelous Square, the Roman Forum and Ancient Agora square. Hotel guests have a choice of 38 stylish and carefully designed rooms and suites equipped with all modern facilities and comforts and a bar and restaurant in a glazed atrium affording views of the ancient ruins of the Macedonian and Roman Empires, a rooftop lounge and Duval-Leroy champagne bar.

Lead in rates start from 148.75 Euros per night based on two sharing and including breakfast.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Santorini (nikkibeachhotels.com/porto-heli/)

The popular beach club concept comes to Santorini in 2019 with the opening of Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Porto Heli. The five-star offering blends hotel and beach club concept with fine dining, music and parties and upscale décor. Located on the private beach of Monolithos Nikki Beach is uniquely situated to offer watersports and yacht hire or just the chance to simply unwind in the stylish spa or enjoy the rooftop pool. Those booking now for stays post opening in July 2019 are eligible for a 25% discount on all rooms and suites. Lead in rates start from 345 Euros for a Luux room with Seaview.

Tour Operator News

Simpson Travel (simpsontravel.com) develops Corfu's Bella Mare; launches Simpson Watersports; offers new boutique hotel Keromoussi and accommodation in Crete

Simpson Travel will be bringing a new level of luxury to Corfu's Bella Mare Hotel situated in a prime location on Avlaki Bay in the much sought-after northeast corner of Corfu. The hotel, will open ten brand new Exclusive Suites, which come with their own shared pool and day-time bar.

Bella Mare is ideal for wider family holidays, catering well for those ever more popular multi-generational trips. Interconnecting rooms, flat gardens and grounds, and a gentle slope into the sea, plus is an ideal location near the teenage-friendly resort of Kassiopi.

Simpson Travel is also expanding  the childcare options at the hotel, with two brand-new programmes for ages eight to 12, and 13 and up: Dolphins, for children aged eight to 12, where activities include beach games, kayaking and movie-making, and Tribe, for ages 13 and up will offer a plethora of exciting activities and excursions tailored for each age group, including watersports, mocktail-making, beach games, horse-riding and visits to a water park. With around 30 hours of supervised activities for the programmes each week, parents will have plenty of time to read a book by the pool and enjoy Bella Mare's beautiful surroundings, safe in the knowledge that their children are being entertained and looked after. The clubs run from 14 July to 31 August and offer on average five hours of activities per day, six days per week.

Through a further partnership with the nearby Corfu Sailing Centre, the company is launching Simpson Watersports where guests can hire kayaks, dinghies, windsurfs and stand-up paddleboards, and take professional lessons in sailing and windsurfing.

New boutique hotel: Keromoussi, Meganissi. Keromoussi has been handpicked for its superb location, offering a magnificent waterfront setting on a private four acre peninsula close to Vathy. This unique new boutique hotel had a soft opening in August this year, but the first full season will be 2019. An Adult Only hotel, it combines all the charm, serenity and natural beauty of the island of Meganissi with a contemporary and stylish design which brings a new level of chic to the Greek islands. Each of just four suites, has its own terrace and mesmerising views and three of the suites share an inviting swimming pool, while the Skorpios Pool Suite boasts its own 6.3m x 3.8m private pool. 

New Myrtos Mare Suites, Crete. Along with a handful of villas, new to Simpson Travel for 2019 are the boutique Myrtos Mare Suites, ideally located in the enchanting town of Myrtos, the suites are only a short drive from Tertsa beach, with its taverna and drop-in yoga classes, or the traditional villages of Mithi and Mournies for breathtaking views. Take a boat trip over to Chrissi Island, Europe's most southerly point, for a swim in shimmering turquoise waters and the chance to sunbathe on pink sand made from coral and sea shells.

Two new multi-centre Greek programmes for Rambler's Walking Holidays (ramblersholidays.co.uk) in 2019

Ramblers Walking Holidays is launching two 14 night, itineraries:

'The Island of Kythira and the Peloponnese.' A three centre holiday starting with a stay at the small fishing port of Gythion on the Peloponnese mainland located in the Mani region and visiting the countryside, a beach, ancient Sparta and Mystra. A week is then spent on the island of Kythira walking its ancient paths and visiting villages and the tallest lighthouse in Greece. The third stop is Gerolimenas back in Mani to see the tower houses, walk the rugged terrain along the villages trail and the Diros Cave on an underground boat trip. The holiday is on a half-board basis and includes return flights to Kalamata.

'Greece's Pelion and Sporades': This three centre, half board holiday starts on Skiathos and then hops to Skopelos – the Mamma Mia island – walking to a number of beaches, passing monasteries and taking in breathtaking views of the other islands. Five nights are then spent at the village of Kala Nera exploring the mule paths that meander through olive groves, pine forests and orchards on the Pelion Peninsula  -  deemed to be the most beautiful region in Greece. Flights are to Skiathos and return from Volos.

Four new islands, island hopping and new itineraries in Preveza, Macedonia and the Peloponnese with Planet Holidays (planet-holidays.co.uk)

In 2019 Planet Holidays is adding Kea and Kythnos – two of the closest islands to Athens but which remain largely unexplored with the five-star Porto Kea Suites in Korissia, Kea and the 'Class A' Porto Klaras Studio & Apartments in Louta, Kythnos with their gorgeous harbour view for those looking for self-catering accommodation in a charming white-washed building. Planet Holidays is also adding the beautiful Patmos island, where St John is said to have written the Book of Revelations and Paxos, the smallest island within the Ionian Islands.

Planet Holidays now features 28 Greek islands, and has added a new feature of island hopping and multi-centre itineraries. Options include a 16-night's in Athens, Iraklia & Naxos; 14-night's in Athens, Kos & Rhodes and 14-night's combining Mykonos & Cyprus.  Planet Holidays can also tailor-make itineraries from their extensive programme, combining mainland and island destinations.

Planet Holidays is also adding the Greek mainland resorts of Preveza in the Epirus region, Pieria in Central Macedonia and Messinia in the Peloponnese. New hotels include the five-star Cavo Olympo Luxury Hotel & Spa in Pieria, a small boutique adults-only hotel with breath-taking views over the Thermaikos Gulf and Mount Olympus.

Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk) re-introduces Kythira
With two new daily flights from Athens, Sunvil is reintroducing the hidden gem of Kythira, the scenically beautiful island off the south coast of the Peloponnese, into its programme. The island has a lush landscape with thick forests covering half of the land mass. Sunvil guests can stay at either the Kapsali resort which boasts two bays and is backed by a Venetian chora or in hotels in Agia Pelagia or Avlemonas. Sunvil offers tailor-made itineraries, and recommends combining the island with a city break in Athens or as part of a fly-drive trip into the South of the Peloponnese.

GIC The Villa Collection (gicthevillacollection.com) celebrates 50 years of business in 2019 with 50 free child flights

The GIC The Villa Collection is celebrating their Golden Anniversary in 2019. In recognition of this milestone they are offering 50 free child flights (2-11yrs), worth £399, to families travelling with us between 15 July and 25 August. Villa Bonas on the island of Paxos is the perfect choice for a family holiday: a spacious, 3 bedroom villa with a private swimming pool, pool table and table tennis. It is also just 10 minutes' walk from Gaios with its choice of tavernas and bars and equi-distance from some of the island's best beaches. Prices based on a family of 4 are from £4766.00 (total) including return flights from London Gatwick, ferry transfers from Corfu to Paxos, car hire on Paxos, a welcome pack and the services of an experienced local representative - based on 29 July departure.

Mazi Travel adds religious tours (global.mazi.travel/72E6D45E.en.aspx)

Destination Management Company, Mazi Travel has added religious tours to their product mix. Greece has always been a melting pot for different religions, situated on the margins between east and west, but was of course the birthplace for the 12 gods of Olympus.

Itineraries include In the footsteps of apostle Paul, which takes in Thessaloniki, Meteora, Athos Peninsula, Pella, Kavala and Olympus; The Jewish Religious Tour taking in Athens and Thessaloniki and Catholic tours which include visiting shrines, libraries, art museums and Catholic monasteries in Corfu, Patmos, Tinos, Syros, Santorini and Chios.

Cultural News

New Contemporary Art Museum, Athens: The Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation (goulandris.gr)

A new centre for art and culture, the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation, will open its doors in 2019 in the centre of Athens, just one hundred metres from Zappeion and the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro). Housed in an eleven-floor building (five below and six above ground) the centre will exhibit rare art works as well as diverse cultural activities to contribute to the cultural advance of Greece. Important names of the modern and contemporary European avant-garde such as: Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Degas, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Picasso, Braque, Léger, Miró, Giacometti, Bacon, Pollock and Balthus will be displayed alongside distinguished figures of Greek avant-garde painting will welcome Greek and international visitors on a daily basis. The Athens museum is a new extension to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Andros, which was the birthplace of Basil Goulandris and has been open since 1979.

Attica food & wine experience (getyourguide.com/atica-l757/culinaria-tc105/)

The Region of Attica has joined forces with local wine producers and food lovers in the new project 'Attica food & wine experience' to promote Attica's vineyards, the wine variety of Savvatiano and to spotlights traditional and modern recipes from Attica. The project has put together visitor itineraries that combine a visit to a winery, with archaeological sites of Attica including Eleusis and top level restaurants and concerts. See more here:

Eleusis Capital of Culture 2021 (eleusis2021.eu)

Eleusis has been named as a Capital of Culture 2021. Just 18 km north west of Athens, Eleusis or Elefsina is one of the most fascinating ancient centres of Greece and houses the great shrines, where the mystery rites of the cults of Demeter and Persephone were fiercely protected on pain of death.

Today the annual Aeschylia Festival is held there which hosts more than 70 events including theater performances, dance shows, concerts, movie screenings, art gallery exhibits, local performances, a half-marathon race, lectures and a conference.

Salon de Bricolage (salondebricolage.gr)

The Salon de Bricolage, a private members club affiliated with the clubs The tramp, Century and The Hopsital Club has recently re-opened at a new Venue 2 Amerikis str., City link

Second Mediterranean Beach Games, Patras, September 2019 (cijm.org.gr/patras-host-city-of-the-mbg-2019)

The second Mediterranean Beach Games will be held in Patras, September 2019.

The Mediterranean Beach Games are a multi-sport games held usually every four years, between nations around or very close to the Mediterranean Sea.

The games are under the auspices of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM) and include 30 water sports and beach sports, which aim at bringing together young athletes of the Mediterranean area, giving them the opportunity to participate in sports events. In 2019 they will be held in Patras.

Ends

November 2018

For further information contact: Panos Papadopolous: 020 74959311, pr@gnto.co.uk,; Jules Ugo or Frances Tuke at LOTUS on 020 7953 7470 / jules@wearelotus.co.uk  / frances@wearelotus.co.uk