FTI Group focuses on Greece – especially Crete

 

MUNICH – Holidays in Greece is requested more than ever: “Compared to pre-pandemic times, we can report a higher demand for holidays in the land of a thousand islands,” explains Jan Mayer, Chief Product Officer for Short & Mid-Haul, and emphasises: “Therefore we will extend the 2023 summer season with selected hotel partners on Crete and Rhodes until mid-November.” The fact that the cooperation with tourism players in Greece is designed for the long term is also reflected in the continuous expansion of the portfolio, including on Crete. “We operate with superlatives on the largest Greek island: 350 weekly connections from around 50 airports in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as France and the Netherlands. For the autumn holidays we are also planning to expand flight capacities to meet demand,” says Halina Strzyzewska, Strategic Destination Officer Greece at FTI.

Well-known and newly discovered

The importance of Crete for the FTI GROUP is also shown by the fact that the island was the venue for this year’s annual conference of the Touristik Vertriebsgesellschaft (TVG). From 27 April to 1 May 2023, 130 participants discussed techniques for improved resilience, the new understanding of the role, the challenges and opportunities for the franchisor, the offices and their partners. Besides Crete, FTI is also focusing on a multi-faceted programme in Greece and is intensifying connections to smaller islands such as Zakynthos and Skiathos. Hence, Araxos, a completely new airport in the north-west of the Peloponnese, is used for the holiday region between Olympia and Patras.

Meeting Point Hellas expands its portfolio

Meeting Point Hellas, the group’s destination management agency, is also benefiting from outstanding figures: “We are already seeing higher demand from our international guests than at the same time in 2022. Due to the very good bookings, especially for the islands of Rhodes. Corfu and Crete, we expect a strong push for the coming months,” knows Mario Habig, CEO DMCs at the FTI GROUP. In order to inspire first-time visitors as well as show regular guests new corners, the subsidiary of the FTI Group has significantly expanded its programme there. “On Crete, our guests can experience a jeep tour through the Psiloritis Park starting this summer: The discovery tour through the UNESCO Geopark leads to archaeological sites, the Sfendoni Cave as well as to the birthplace of Zeus, the Ida Mountains,” says Manos Drakonakis, CEO of Meeting Point Hellas & Cyprus, and continues, “On renewed round trip ‘Cretan Flavors’, stops at a winery as well as an olive oil factory will make gourmet hearts beat faster.”

Tags: Mario Habig, FTI GROUP, Manos Drakonakis,  Meeting Point Hellas & Cyprus, Jan Mayer,  Short & Mid-Haul, Halina Strzyzewska