Greece may be struggling but Athens and its many islands remain a tempting option for incentives, says Jenny Southan.
There have been suggestions that the best way for Greece to relieve the burden of its €300 billion debt is to sell off some of its uninhabited islands, and even its best-known landmark, the Acropolis.
With about 6,000 islands dotted across the turquoise Aegean, of which only 227 have people living on them, it’s true that this could be a way out of the country’s financial problems. But the Greeks are proud, and parting with land it fought hard to regain and protect for centuries is not an option.
The last group of islands to unify with Greece, the Dodecanese – which includes Rhodes and Kos – did so only in 1948 after some 740 years of foreign occupation. Since joining the European Union in 1981, life for many has improved dramatically thanks to a growth in tourism and revenue from shipping. It was only when the economy nose-dived last year that Greece found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The effect on the travel industry, as with many other countries, has been shorter stays, smaller groups and a downturn in high-end hotel bookings. The corporate incentive market in particular has suffered. Rena Gkini, senior account manager of destination management company Vista Events, says: “Normally the groups we cater for are between 250 and 300 people but sometimes we get larger ones of 500 to 1,200. A few months ago, however, we had a group of 17 people – that was small.”
The problem is partly down to the fact that Greece’s major markets are the UK, France, Italy and Germany, which have all been having their fair share of financial problems too. Sophia Filippaki, sales executive for the 543-room Athenaeum Intercontinental hotel, says: “Last year was tough but we had a lot of support from the local market and things are picking up now. We are quite optimistic. Groups are more interested in making bookings.”
What’s more, as Sophia Panayiotaki, director of the Greek National Tourist Office in the UK and Ireland notes, prices have come down, which is a plus for any visitor.
According to Gkini, who works closely with businesses around the world to organise teambuilding and incentive experiences, a key reason for the decline in visitors is the perception people have of the country. “If you only listen to what is on the news about us, no one would come to Greece. Things are not so bad. People try to think positively here because if you start to feel down then there is a problem. But we live in such a lovely country, you only have to go to the sea and your heart opens. You can’t feel depressed here. Greece may be suffering but if you go out at the weekends everyone is in the restaurants and clubs – you can’t take that away from us,” she says.
Many hundreds of years of war will testify to the special geographical position Greece and its islands have between West and East, and today, good air links continue to make its capital, Athens, a hub for both business and leisure travel. British Airways, Easyjet and Greek carriers Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines, which are set to merge by early next year under the Olympic brand, offer direct daily services from London. From the city centre it’s only a 15-minute drive to the Port of Piraeus, from where visitors can hop on a boat to numerous nearby islands.
This accessibility means short breaks of two or three nights in the city are feasible, as are sailing trips around the Saronic Gulf, treks to nearby ancient sites such as Delphi, Mount Parnassus and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, jeep safaris around Vavrona in search of secret beaches, walks through coastal pine forests, and hikes up Mount Parnitha. As Gkini says, this makes Athens ideal for corporate incentives.
“In 15 to 20 minutes you can find yourself on top of the Acropolis looking at the Parthenon or by the seaside,” she says. “That’s a unique element because most of the groups coming here are very strict in their programme, so we can give them this variety – a day by the sea, one night in the city centre so they get to experience what Athens is all about, whatever they want.”
Companies such as Vista Events can create bespoke itineraries to cater to even the most complex, ambitious or frivolous demands. “We try to understand our client and build a good relationship – we get on the phone and listen to what they want. We also have a representative in London who can visit clients there,” Gkini says.
So what other activities are on offer? Delegates can do anything from scavenger hunts to cultural bike tours, but for those craving crystal waters and fresh sea air, sailing regattas are popular. Gkini says: “We do a one-hour training course and then take the clients to a yacht where they put into practice what they have learnt. From there we race to two or three islands.”
At 87 sq km, Aegina is one of the larger inhabited islands within an hour or so of Athens’ Port of Pireaus, and although not one of the most idyllic, has genuine charm. Almost two-thirds of its land mass is extinct volcano, and the soil is ideal for the cultivation of pistachio trees – walk down any of the town’s sleepy streets and you will see bags of nuts piled up outside shops.
Spend an afternoon here and you can hire a moped and tour its historic sites or simply relax in the sun with an iced coffee as the locals do. The small fishing village of Perdika is also on the island and is great for activities such as raft building or beach Olympics, followed by a seafood dinner on the waterfront.
The best times to plan a trip are in the spring, when it is not so hot, or in September, when the weather is fine, the sea is warm and the wind is calm. If you are looking for luxury, there is also the option of chartering a yacht. Try sailing to Poros, about 60km from Pireaus, which is quaint with brightly coloured boats bobbing by the quay.
Even more captivating is Hydra, the crescent-shaped harbour of which is fringed with cafés and tavernas. One of the reasons this island is so peaceful is that there are no cars – the only mode of transport is the donkeys that stand blinking their long eyelashes as they wait for passing trade. Take a stroll through the whitewashed streets and you will come upon villas swathed in lilac wisteria, cats stretched out on the cobbles and lemon trees poking over walls. If you haven’t packed a picnic hamper, nip into Bratsera hotel (bratserahotel.com) for a cold Mythos beer and a Greek salad – it has a pool and an outdoor terrace, and is two minutes’ walk from the more touristy waterside.
Gkini believes Greece has all the elements for a perfect trip. “We have the culture, the climate, amazing views and Greek hospitality – it is not like anywhere else. Most of the people here speak more than one language – they may not be fluent but they will make an effort,” she says.
The country also offers delicious cuisine. “We always ask our clients if they have any dietary requests and if they say someone is vegetarian, we reply: ‘Then you are coming to the best country.’ The variety of the food we have is very good and the portions are far from small.” (See panel, left.)
When it comes to dining in the city, it’s best to go native and book something authentic, preferably with views of the Acropolis, which is lit up at night. Elaia (vsgroup.gr) is in Plaka, the old town of Athens. It seats more than 300 people and offers a rooftop dining terrace, live music and excellent food.
For a more refined gathering, the top-floor Ioannis restaurant at the Royal Olympic hotel (royalolympic.com) offers ostentatious, meat-heavy cooking, impressive vistas of ancient ruins, and a canopy that opens to the stars. Première at the Intercontinental hotel (athens.intercontinental.com) has a roof terrace seating 170 people and serves top-notch Mediterranean fare.
To complete the evening, head to Greece’s “mega-yacht destination” Flisvos Marina (flisvosmarina.com), ten minutes’ drive from the city centre, and join the locals in one of its many trendy bars. Yamas!
Go to visitgreece.gr or vistaevent.co.uk for more information. Visit businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested for reviews of the Royal Olympic and Athenaeum Intercontinental hotels.
BANQUET GREEK-STYLE
If you’re planning a group dinner, consider including these traditional Greek dishes and drinks in your menu.
FOOD
Baklava – layered filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey
Bekri meze – translated as “drunkard’s snack”, it is pork or beef braised in wine
Dolmades – vine leaves stuffed with rice, onion, parsley and vegetables or meat
Kakavia – a stew of fish, seafood and vegetables
Kleftiko – lamb on the bone marinated in garlic and lemon and then slow baked
Moussaka – baked aubergine and tomato with minced meat and white sauce
Saganaki – fried cheese with lemon juice and black pepper
Souvlaki – grilled chunks of meat, traditionally pork or chicken, on a skewer or served in pitta bread
Spanakopita – filo pastry pie filled with spinach, feta cheese and onions, usually served as a thick square slice (marathopita is the same but made with fennel)
Stifado – game or beef stew with red wine, pearl onions, vinegar and cinnamon
Tzatziki – an appetiser made with yoghurt, cucumber and garlic
DRINK
Ouzo – a strong, clear aniseed aperitif that goes cloudy white when mixed with water and ice, as is commonly served
Masticha – clear pine-flavoured liquor made from resin from the mastic tree
Metaxa – distilled spirit made of brandy and wine
Mythos – local pilsner-style 5 per cent lager
