PANEL DISCUSSION
“GREECE’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: A PILLAR OF GROWTH & GLOBAL APPEAL”
In the context of the
27th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum
“Building on Success: Unlocking Greece’s Investment Potential”
Monday December 8, 2025 – New York
27 Sessions – 107 Top Level Speakers
An International Summit about the Greek Economy & Investment Opportunities in NEW YORK Featuring Top US and International Investors, Global & Greek Companies, Global Investment Banks & Institutions, High-Ranking Government Officials from Greece and the US
The following highly interesting KEYNOTE REMARKS titled “TOURISM. A THRIVING SECTOR OF THE GREEK ECONOMY: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CURRENT TRENDS”, followed by the PANEL DISCUSSION titled “GREECE’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: A PILLAR OF GROWTH & GLOBAL APPEAL” were part of the agenda of the 27th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum: “Building on Success: Unlocking Greece’s Investment Potential”, that was held with great success and participation, on Monday, December 8, 2025 in New York in cooperation with New York Stock Exchange – NYSE, Athens Exchange Group (ATHEX Group) and major Global Investment Banks & Organizations. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and TEN Ltd (Tsakos Energy Navigation) were the Lead Sponsors. The Forum was organized under the Auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York.
H.E. Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism made keynote remarks entitled “TOURISM. A THRIVING SECTOR OF THE GREEK ECONOMY: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CURRENT TRENDS”.
In addition to her Keynote Remarks, Minister of Tourism participated along with other Ministers of the Greek Government in a Ministerial Roundtable with a group of international investors, organized by Capital Link in the context of the Forum.
In her speech, Minister Olga Kefalogianni stated: “Greece today is a stable and steadily growing economy, having achieved a remarkable fiscal recovery. Tourism remains one of the country’s vital economic pillars and a proven engine of growth. Consecutive records in revenues and arrivals, along with rapidly improving infrastructure, underscore Greece’s appeal as a leading global destination, the sector’s resilience, and its strong capacity to attract investment.
To ensure sustainable growth, our government has adopted a proactive policy that creates economic opportunity while safeguarding our natural and cultural heritage. At the Ministry of Tourism, our strategy focuses on broadening Greece’s tourism offerings, extending travel throughout the year, and spreading benefits across every region. Through targeted legislation, upgrading of tourism infrastructure, embracing digital innovation, and strengthening workforce knowledge and skills, we are creating a supportive environment for further investment.
Greece is committed to a modern, diversified, and sustainable tourism model, and we welcome partners who share this vision to be part of our next chapter in tourism development.”
GREECE’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: A PILLAR OF GROWTH & GLOBAL APPEAL
Moderator:
- Yiannis Kantas, Partner – Koutalidis Law Firm
Panelists:
- Dr. Yiannis N. Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO) – Athens International Airport SA
- Ioannis Orfanos, Partner | Head of Capital Markets – Colliers Greece & Cyprus
- Andreas N. Fiorentinos, Secretary General – Greek National Tourism Organization-GNTO
Mr. Yiannis Kantas, Partner – Koutalidis Law Firm, moderated this critical panel examining Greece’s thriving hospitality sector. With extensive experience in complex transactions and a deep understanding of the Greek investment landscape, Mr. Kantas brought unique insight to facilitate this high-level discussion on one of Greece’s most dynamic economic pillars.
Greece’s hospitality industry has emerged as a cornerstone of the country’s remarkable economic recovery, attracting substantial foreign direct investment and contributing significantly to GDP growth. The sector encompasses not only traditional tourism but also luxury hospitality developments, real estate investments, infrastructure projects, and sustainable tourism initiatives that are reshaping the country’s competitive positioning in the global market. Koutalidis Law Firm’s participation in this forum underscored the firm’s leading role in advising on major hospitality, tourism, and real estate transactions in Greece. The firm’s expertise spans hotel acquisitions and developments, tourism infrastructure projects, regulatory compliance, licensing, and structured financing – making it an essential advisor to both domestic and international clients seeking to enter or expand in the Greek hospitality market.
Dr. Yiannis N. Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO) – Athens International Airport SA, stressed:
“The years 2023, 2024 and 2025 serve as a reference point for Greek tourism. Having successfully overcome the pandemic crisis, the “brand Greece” strengthened its position on the global map, while the tourism sector recorded remarkable growth and reaffirmed its role as a pillar of the Greek economy, with a direct contribution of €30.2 billion in 2024 – an amount corresponding to 13% of GDP – alongside an even higher indirect impact. Within this positive environment and having achieved stellar performance both in passenger traffic and connectivity, the airport company has built its strategy around four main pillars :(1) significant investments in infrastructure and technology, through the ongoing expansion programme exceeding €1.3 billion; (2) a strong focus on sustainability and energy autonomy through its pioneering ROUTE 2025 project, aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions balance by the end of 2025; (3) further strengthening of Athens’ connectivity; and (4) generating added value for the economy and society, with 3.8% of national GDP (€8.6 billion) already directly or indirectly linked to the activity of the airport’s ecosystem.
In this context, major organizations such as Athens International Airport can—and should—play a leading role in shaping decisions and strategy for the future of Greek tourism. The development of a national master plan – with investments in technology, artificial intelligence, spatial planning, infrastructure, and more effective coordination between central and local administration – is of decisive importance for the Greek economy and society.”
Mr. Andreas N. Fiorentinos, Secretary General – Greek National Tourism Organization-GNTO, highlighted:
The 27th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum stands as the most significant and longstanding international economic event for Greece in the United States. For more than twenty-five years, the Forum has served as a strategic channel of communication between Greece and the global investment community, consistently strengthening the country’s image abroad.
Today, Greece is not only an attractive tourism destination—it is a mature, stable and reliable investment proposition. The country’s progress toward investment grade, ongoing reforms, institutional stability and economic resilience form a robust foundation for international investors.
The Greek National Tourism Organisation has assumed an expanded role: not only in promoting the country, but in shaping the conditions for steady, high-quality tourism development—development that translates into added value for those who place their trust in brand Greece.
Over the past two years, a cohesive strategy has been implemented, built upon three central pillars:
- Extending the tourism season
Greece is being positioned as a year-round destination, with emphasis on city breaks, culture, gastronomy and wellness. Extending the season supports revenue stability and enhances the return on investment for tourism infrastructure.
- Expanding into new high-value markets
The strategy also targets emerging markets such as India, the Far East and the Latin Americas —markets that bring high-income travelers with above-average spending. This diversification strengthens the long-term sustainability of the Greek tourism model.
- Digital transformation & data-driven marketing
Digital transformation has become a decisive factor for competitiveness. Artificial intelligence, data and personalized digital journeys increasingly shape travel decisions.
The GNTO is implementing a focused strategy that:
– enhances precision in market targeting
– creates a unified digital experience for travelers
– helps SMEs access international audiences
– strengthens the brand Greece through modern digital tools
Through these initiatives, Greece retains its competitive position not only as a physical destination but also as a digitally enhanced one.
The future of Greek tourism is based on balanced, sustainable and regionally distributed growth.
The strategy includes:
– promoting new and alternative destinations to create development opportunities throughout the country
– strengthening thematic forms of tourism—cultural, gastronomic, wellness and medical—thus building a portfolio of high-value experiences
Such diversification enhances the resilience of the tourism product and provides investors with more stable and attractive long-term prospects.
The Capital Link Forum is a key venue for substantive dialogue and the formation of partnerships that further strengthen Greece’s position on the global investment and tourism map. Continuing this dialogue is essential for unlocking new opportunities and leveraging the momentum Greece has built in recent years.
Greek tourism no longer simply seeks investment.
It supports it, multiplies it, and transforms it into lasting value.
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