Grecotel is to host two regional exclusive events for travel advisors this year as it looks to continue growing trade sales and awareness in the UK market.
Events will be held in partnership with TTG Luxury, including a lunch in Bath on 20 June to attract agents in the southwest and a Yorkshire event in October.
April Hutchinson, editor of TTG Luxury said: “We are delighted to partner with Grecotel on these events which prove how keen they are to ensure their trade relationships grow stronger and stronger. We’ve already held one event in London with the team, and we are already seeing the results of that in bookings being delivered to the hotels across Europe and partnership growth for the brand.”
Grecotel is also on track to host more than 200 agents this year, including almost 30 at the recent Carrier Retreat, an exclusive four-day event at Grecotel Corfu Imperial resort.
“As you can see from the number of agent fam trips we host, our travel agent partners are really important for us. In 2023 we equally welcomed more than 200 travel agents on fam trips to our hotels too,” said Konstantinos Sinis, director of sales UK & Luxury for Grecotel.
For the second consecutive year – last year was in Corfu, this year in Crete – Grecotel will host the Gold Travel Counsellors conference in June and the Elegant Resorts managers’ conference at the end of October.
The Designer Travel Academy was recently held in Crete and several fully hosted fam trips with leading agents and operators from across the UK will also be held in May, June, September and October.
“Grecotel has seen a growth in the UK market of over 120% within the past three years and we are now pacing ahead at 35% so looking at a very successful 2023,” Sinis said.
“The UK is now the leading market for Grecotel and the highest in growth. We have built a fantastic base during peaks, and we expect a lates market for the higher room categories. It will be another successful year for Grecotel – but more importantly for Greece,” he added.
Grecotel is also continuing to expand the team in the UK, Sinis added.
“Our trade mix is being constantly increased – we have hired Liz Shaw for the north and Yiannis Ioannou for London and the south. We will also soon be looking for the third person to join us focused in marketing as we sign more than 40 contracts of marketing contributions with travel agents and tour operators,” said Sinis.
Meanwhile, Grecotel is continuing its “new era of renovations” with the completion of work at Cape Sounio in the Athenian Riviera opposite the temple of Poseidon, while Grecotel Corfu Imperial has had a fifth floor of luxury accommodation added.
Sinis said the group was especially keen to highlight its new addition in Athens to agents, The Dolli “as one of the most exclusive” hotels in the city.
Agents interested in attending Grecotel’s events in the UK with TTG Luxury should contact April Hutchinson.
