With Easter roughly three months away, hotel owners in Greece’s mountain regions are cautiously optimistic. Many hope this season will provide much-needed stability for their businesses. While the Christmas and Epiphany holidays offered some relief, steady tourism is far from guaranteed.
- Mountain hotels saw slight occupancy drops over the holidays due to short-term rentals.
- Key dates like Epiphany and New Year’s reached maximum bookings with fresh snowfall.
- Ski resorts significantly boosted both hotel stays and restaurant revenues.
- Hoteliers remain cautiously optimistic leading to Easter 2025, with upcoming snowfalls being critical.
Mountain lodging operators are banking on a consistent flow of visitors through April. For them, a “smooth winter season” means packed hotels during long weekends and moderate occupancy during quieter weekdays. It’s a delicate balance.
According to hotelier Thanasis Dafalias, “A smooth season would be ideal, but Christmas and Epiphany aren’t the norm for mountain hotels.”
- Long weekends drive high occupancy rates.
- Weekday bookings are expected to be reasonable but far less lucrative.
- Snowfall could boost demand in the coming weeks.
Predictably, last-minute weather conditions will play a significant role. Snowfall is crucial. A successful season depends on nature working in favour of the local economy.
Some areas, like Kalavryta, are already showing promise. Dafalias noted, “For the upcoming weekend, occupancy rates in Kalavryta are at 70%, slightly lower for the weekends after.”
Predicting the season, Vasilis Kallias echoed optimism: “If it snows another one or two times, the year will go well.”
For now, tourists are making reservations in advance, but fluctuating weather and economic uncertainty remain challenges for hotel owners.
