Guest Inn – The Greek Network of Rural Accommodation

www.guestinn.com

What are the colors What are the colors of Greece?of Greece?

The Blue & White of courseThe Blue & White of course !! !!

But for us exist another Greece andBut for us exist another Greece and

Its color is green!Its color is green!

About Guest InnAbout Guest Inn

• Guest Inn is the first Greek network of selected traditional rural accommodations.

• A private initiative, created in 2003 by two travel experts. It is a Greek-French cooperation and the head office is in Athens.

• Guest Inn is a member of the European Federation of Farm and Village Tourism, “EuroGites”since 2004.

Main tasksMain tasks

1.1. Services to the MembersServices to the Members

PromotionPromotion InformationInformation OrganizationOrganization AdviceAdvice CooperationCooperation

2. Service to the travelers (clients)2. Service to the travelers (clients)

A quality website for all!A quality website for all!

Fast & clear updated informationFast & clear updated information Quick & easy searchQuick & easy search Themed vacation planningThemed vacation planning On line booking & paymentOn line booking & payment Up dated prices & special offersUp dated prices & special offers

Financial PrinciplesFinancial Principles

Annual fee depending the size of the Annual fee depending the size of the guest houseguest house

Commission on bookings Commission on bookings

No permanent funds (national or No permanent funds (national or European)European)

Product presentation Product presentation Our philosophyOur philosophy

AuthenticityAuthenticity

QualityQuality

Warm welcome and Warm welcome and family atmospherefamily atmosphere

EnvironmentEnvironment

Small family Small family accommodationaccommodation

The GUEST INNThe GUEST INNlabellabel

4 4 specific quality standards

Warm & friendly welcomeWarm & friendly welcome

ComfortComfort

Typical style of buildingTypical style of building

EnvironmentEnvironment

ClassificationClassification

The sunflowers (1 to 4) classify the standard

of the accommodation and help travellers to

find the guest house that will best meet their needs

The Guest Inn Network The Guest Inn Network

Provided servicesProvided services Homemade breakfast Homemade breakfast Homemade meals (table d’hHomemade meals (table d’hôôtes)tes) Cleaning service, towels & sheets, Cleaning service, towels & sheets,

electricity and other charges (included in electricity and other charges (included in price)price)

Fresh fruits and vegetables for freeFresh fruits and vegetables for free Greek cuisine lessons Greek cuisine lessons Activities (horse riding, local production Activities (horse riding, local production

initiation, mountain bike, etcinitiation, mountain bike, etc

Price levelPrice level

Average price for 2 persons Average price for 2 persons depending the period and the category depending the period and the category

Bed & Breakfast: from 40 to 80 euros/dayBed & Breakfast: from 40 to 80 euros/day

Traditional lodgings (self catering):Traditional lodgings (self catering):

from 40 to 90 euros/dayfrom 40 to 90 euros/day

Traditional cottages: from 50 to 100 euros/dayTraditional cottages: from 50 to 100 euros/day

Tax & other regulationsTax & other regulations

No special tax regulation for small size No special tax regulation for small size accommodations accommodations

Normal VAT chargesNormal VAT charges High local charges High local charges High social charges for the ownersHigh social charges for the owners Special permit for breakfast and meal Special permit for breakfast and meal

providers (hard regulations)providers (hard regulations) Official license from the Ministry of Official license from the Ministry of

Tourism (compulsory)Tourism (compulsory)

Rural Tourism against a Rural Tourism against a strong brand namestrong brand name

The strong brand name & image of The strong brand name & image of GreeceGreece

The unilateral promotion policy of the The unilateral promotion policy of the Minister of tourismMinister of tourism

The power of the big international Tour The power of the big international Tour Operators and Greek hotel chains Operators and Greek hotel chains

No easy access to many areas of the No easy access to many areas of the country (islands or main land)country (islands or main land)

The power of the network The power of the network The first results - The first results - 2005/20062005/2006

87% foreign travelers

66% visited ruralor mountain areas

Clients’ profileClients’ profileLocal marketLocal market

They are not Internet users / don’t trust InternetThey are not Internet users / don’t trust Internet Direct contact & booking (language facilities)Direct contact & booking (language facilities) Traveling period: bank & school holidays and Traveling period: bank & school holidays and

week-endsweek-ends They choose only 1 place to stayThey choose only 1 place to stay Interesting: Lately they “share” the summer Interesting: Lately they “share” the summer

holidays between mountain–country areas and holidays between mountain–country areas and the sea side (new trends & lower prices). the sea side (new trends & lower prices).

Clients’ profile Clients’ profile Foreign marketForeign market

Individual clients - Internet usersIndividual clients - Internet users Early bookings via InternetEarly bookings via Internet Travel by car, or by plain (no charter flights)Travel by car, or by plain (no charter flights) Average length of stay 1 to 4 weeks Average length of stay 1 to 4 weeks Traveling period from April to OctoberTraveling period from April to October Age: between 35 and 65Age: between 35 and 65 Higher and high Higher and high social & economic statussocial & economic status Have special interests/requests (nature, local Have special interests/requests (nature, local

culture and people, calm etc)culture and people, calm etc)

Bookings by nationalityBookings by nationality20092009

Families or Couples?Families or Couples?20092009

Choice of destination:Choice of destination:in the mountain or by the sea?in the mountain or by the sea?

20092009

Guest Houses location:Guest Houses location:Close to the sea or close to the Close to the sea or close to the

mountain ?mountain ?20092009

Average stay per Average stay per guest houseguest house

20092009

Early bookingsEarly bookings20092009

On 2009, 60% of the season’s bookingsOn 2009, 60% of the season’s bookings

had been made from January to May had been made from January to May

instead of January to March (crisis ?)instead of January to March (crisis ?)

Today, the rural tourism in Greece exists and it presents aToday, the rural tourism in Greece exists and it presents a

better alternative to mass tourism which has beenbetter alternative to mass tourism which has been

developed during last 20 years and has started increasingdeveloped during last 20 years and has started increasing

seriously. seriously.

New ideas, excellent accommodation quality, uniqueNew ideas, excellent accommodation quality, unique

gastronomy, new technologies, environmental sensitivities,gastronomy, new technologies, environmental sensitivities,

use of alternative energy, bio cultures - this is the newuse of alternative energy, bio cultures - this is the new

image of the RT in Greece. image of the RT in Greece.

This new image is being created mainly by young people,This new image is being created mainly by young people,

who have decided to stay at their place of origin and towho have decided to stay at their place of origin and to

develop rural tourism in their area. develop rural tourism in their area.