Hotels have high hopes for Marathon

By Stathis Kousounis

Sunday’s Athens Authentic Marathon, in which up to 35,000 runners are expected to participate, is seen as a crucial boost for the capital’s hotels, although future marathons hold the potential for even greater benefits for tourism in the city, according to the president of the Attica, Athens and Argosaronic Hoteliers Association.

Alexandros Vassilikos also told Kathimerini that in other cities that host marathon races the occupancy rate at local hotels reaches 100 percent on the days around the event.

He hopes that the Greek capital’s hotels will see their guests increase this November, following the pattern set in previous months. Vassilikos also stressed that Athens hotels count on the marathon every November and promote it to their customers.

November occupancy rates at Athens hotels posted a steady decline from 2007 to 2012, dropping from 71.4 percent seven years ago to just 42.6 percent in 2012. A rebound was recorded last year as Athens hotels were just over half-full (51.8 percent), according to the hoteliers association.