Alexandros Vassilikos, President Athens-Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association

Philoxenia 2014 greeting.

Dear friends and colleagues

2014 was a year of growth in tourism numbers. Setting celebrations aside, though, now is the time to focus on “building” a strong and firm identity of our product. Sectoral meetings and exhibitions should be the ground of new ideas targeting the future of our sector, not short term solutions.

Athens, this year, was back on the spotlight of international tourism interest and also was the European capital with the higher increase in tourism numbers. This was not a coincidence or random luck but it was the result of combined efforts and initiatives taken by private key tourism sector bodies. Athens’ unique characteristics remain the same – such as picturesque islands, one of the most beautiful Riviera in Europe, archaeological and historical sites, museums, vivid city life, gastronomy and the most renovated tourism infrastructure ideal for conferences, meetings, city breaks. Athens is a close destination for European, Russian and Middle Eastern visitors for a year round holiday break.

Furthermore, the rise in Athens’ popularity as a destination has been reinforced by visitors satisfaction as 96% of them said they would recommend the city to others while the Greek capital, as a destination, scored high (7,8/10) in overall evaluation.

We, the hoteliers in Athens, strongly believe in the destinations dynamic profile and we invite you to visit us, to live the experience of eternal Athens and to become an Athenian too.