Tour operator sees Greek bookings rise by 40%

One of the most famous holiday tour operators has reportedly seen an increase of 40% in Greek holiday bookings made by UK holiday makers.

This could be excellent news for the soon to be developed Hera Bay Luxury Resort.

Demand this year is also particularly strong for smaller European destinations including Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia and Portugal, Cook said.

For the summer, in the UK, amid “a more competitive market to the Spanish Islands”, Cook said its focus remained on selling “higher margin, quality holidays rather than pursuing volume growth”.

As a result, charter risk pricing was up 9%, while bookings were slightly behind last year.

For the UK as a whole, including seat-only and non-risk package holidays, bookings were flat overall and average selling prices up 3%.

How the Mediterranean Diet Could Be the Secret to Living a Healthy Life

A new book might just be the answer to your dietary issues if you are looking to eat health and still enjoy your food.

The book, Live to Eat: Cooking the Mediterranean Way by Chef Michael Psilakis, is a newly published book that is based on the Mediterranean diet and showcases meals that are delicious and nutritious. "Good food doesn’t have to be unhealthy," Psilakis said, according to the nypost.com.

Why is the Mediterranean diet something that you might want to try? Let’s take a look at why the Mediterranean diet is the new favorite choice for living a healthy lifestyle.

According to a recent study by Harvard University that complied diets and medical histories of 200,000 health professionals in the U.S. over a period of 20 years, the Mediterranean diet has been proven by scientists to significantly protect us against type 2 diabetes.

Tourists from China visiting Greece soon set to exceed 250,000

Only 50,000 Chinese tourists out of the 10 million that traveled in Europe came to Greece last year, according to the Greek statistics service and data of the Athens International Airport (AIA).

“This is a very small number compared to the popularity of our country in China,” Giorgos Drakopoulos, advisor of the secretary-general of the Greek National Tourism Organzsation (GNTO), said to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency. Drakopoulos estimated that after three years Chinese tourists visiting Greece could exceed 250,000.

As he stated, the main reason for the small number of Chinese tourists in our country is the lack of direct flights from China to Greece. In order for an airline company to launch a direct flight, there must be high demand, he added and called out for coordinated actions. “A comprehensive marketing plan of at least three years is needed,” he stressed.

Drakopoulos explained the importance of Greece opening to new markets as it cannot always depend on the traditional markets. Moreover, outgoing tourism in China is rapidly developing and according to estimates a total of 23 million Chinese are expected to Europe in 2025. Another quality characteristic of the Chinese tourists, he said, is that they tend to spend a lot of money on their holidays.

Samos is top destination for cruise passengers

The beautiful island of Samos is set to become even more popular, with Celestyal Cruises

announcing Samos as a destination in its 3 and 4-day Iconic Aegean itineraries after evaluating more than 85,000 questionnaires.

Celestyal Cruises said that its passengers found Samos, in the northeastern Aegean, as one of the top destinations.

Therefore, as of March 2017, the company will offer passengers the opportunity to visit either Samos or Kusadasi, whilst being on the same cruise. The 3 and 4-day Iconic Aegean itineraries include other destinations such as Piraeus, Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Herakleion and Santorini.

“We continue to bring unique products to the cruise industry,” Celestyal Cruises CEO Kyriakos Anastassiadis said.

See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/01/19/celestyal-cruises-samos-is-top-destination-among-cruise-passengers/

Traditional Samos superstitions

Traditional Superstitions in Samos:

Priest
Greek Orthodox priests ( popes ) are very revered and the custom is to kiss a priest’s hand in
respect when meeting one, today this custom is only followed in small villages.
But it is believed that seeing a black cat and a priest during the same day is
bad luck.

Bat Bone
For some Island folk, bat bones are considered to be very lucky. These people carry a small bit of the bone in their pockets or purses with them where ever they go. The only problem is getting the bone as it is supposed to be very bad luck to kill a bat.

Cactus
No Greek home would be complete without at least 1 cactus positioned somewhere close the
front entrance. Cactus with its thorny spikes, takes it place proudly warding off the evil eye from the property.

Crow
Crows are considered omens of bad news, misfortune, disease and death. When you see or hear a crow cawing, you say go well into the day and bring me good news ( in greek language “Sto Kalo, Sto Kalo, Kala Nea na me Feris” )

Tuesday the 13th
Different from Western cultures, it is Tuesday the 13th of the month that is considered unlucky in Greece and not Friday the 13th .

Halcyon Hills - Luxury resort and Spa

Halcyon Hills Luxury Resort offers a wonderful opportunity for holiday home purchasers, in a wonderful beachfront setting. With our guaranteed 25% developer finance option, owning your dream holiday home is easier than ever.

Buyers can choose from a huge variety of holiday homes within the resort, all benefitting from the plethora of facilities including a luxury spa, beaches and an exclusive marina. Nestling in a sheltered bay on the spectacular Greek island of Samos, the location of the resort is truly spectacular.

There's a wide variety of holiday homes for sale, including studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments and villas. There's something for everyone no matter your budget. We also offer a 200% developer buyback, where the developer will offer to buy back the property from you 10 years from completion for 200% of your original deposit.

Pythagorio - Cultural jewel of the Aegean

A quick drive down the coast from Halcyon Hills is Pythagorio.

Pythagorio and its picturesque harbor are home to many yachts and sailing boats. The beautiful, topaz blue waters of the Aegean sparkle in the midday sun. From here it is possible to travel by boat to several other Aegean islands.

The town is named after the famous ancient Greek Mathematician and Philosopher Pythagoras and is a very popular destination, as it has many architectural sites of interest, as well as a stunning beach that boasts pristine white sands that stretch down to the clear blue waters of the Aegean. Soak up the history and ancient culture of Samos in this beautiful town.

Pythagorio contains many great architectural works of the period, such as the great aqueduct (part of it is the Tunnel of Eupalinos), temple of Heraion, and Samos harbor. The city was originally called Tigani, based on the Italian word "Dogana" which means "customs", but it'the name was changed in 1955 to Pythagorio after the famous Greek Mathematician and Philosopher.

The Samos Temple of Hera

A short distance away from Halcyon Hills Samos is the ancient Temple of Hera.

The Temple of Hera, or Heraion, is an ancient Archaic Greek temple at Olympia, Greece, that was dedicated to Hera, queen of the Greek Gods. The temple was built in approximately 590 BC, but was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 4th century AD.

In the Archaic Greek time period, the temple stored items important to Greek culture, and other offerings of the people. In modern times, the torch of the Olympic flame is lit in its ruins.

The Heraion at Olympia, located in the north of the sacred precinct, the Altis, is one of the earliest Doric temples in Greece, and the oldest peripteral temple at that site, having a single row of columns on all sides. The location may have previously been the place of worship of an older cult.

HALCYON HILLS - FAST TRACK

With Fast Track imminent and therefore a confirmed window in which we know that construction of Halcyon Hills can commence, we will be liaising with  the site construction companies to ensure that they are fully committed to the project.

We will also be providing regular updates and photographs of the Halcyon Hills Resort and we look forward to sharing these with all owners.

All of the paperwork has been sent to Invest in Greece for their appraisal. The Head of Invest in Greece has given us very  positive feedback regarding our project but asked for further explanation on a few areas, such as a more dynamic business plan in Excel format, as opposed to a Word document and created in a Greek format.

The siren call of Samos

SOCRATES gives us a stunning view. In the 40 minutes it takes to fly from Athens, our philosophically named plane skims so low over the jigsaw of Aegean islands that we can see their scribbled goat tracks and ragged coastlines.

In the distance, beyond the tracery of cruise ships, the island of Mykonos, known as Greece's party isle, glistens like a mirror ball. It isn't long before we descend towards the hilly outpost of Samos, uniquely shaped like a kangaroo.

Greece aims to be a record breaker

Greek tourism officials are forecasting a record year in terms of tourism as the industry continues to boom across the mainland and its islands.

Speaking to the newspaper Xoni, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura commented: "The figures for international airline arrivals at Athens airport are constantly touching new highs since the start of the year, with the first six months ending with an increase of 4.4 per cent."

This increase has been led mainly by Brits, who have been booking and traveling to Greece in large numbers. Political changes in Turkey have also allowed Russian visitors to increase. "In the first five months of 2016 alone, arrivals [of Russians] increased by more than 47 per cent compared with the same period in 2015," Kountoura said, who went on to say that most of Greece’s tourism markets were growing.

This is undoubtedly great news for holiday home owners who are looking to rent out properties – and it’s a great time to buy to benefit from the growth in tourism.
Original source: travelpulse.com

Greece is the word!

Following our MD Robin’s visit to Athens last month, the supporting report along with the Fast Track submission fee have now been sent to Nicholas Efstathiadis. As soon as our formal acceptance into Fast Track has been confirmed, which shouldn’t take long, we will let you know.

Talks with a famous worldwide hotel chain continue which could prove wonderful news for our resales and for the resort’s occupancy rates when completed and an LOI has been issued.

In light of the UK Referendum on the 23rd of June and the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, I wish to confirm that Halcyon Hills Luxury Resort and Spa is owned by a Greek company. This means that the resort remains a Euro asset, the resort will still be entitled to the European Union funding and the project remains supported by the Mayor of Samos, Michalis Angelopoulos.

We fully expect in the next newsletter to announce the resorts successful Fast Track entry and the subsequent final steps taken towards construction starting.

Greece property interest grows

According to a leading overseas property publication, Greece is 'well and truly back on the map' for those looking to buy property abroad.

A combination of a stabilised property price, a reduction in buying costs and a rise in low season, low budget flights has seen interest grow according to A Place In The Sun.

'Sales have been three to four times what they were last year' said Spyros Matzos, who heads up a leading Greece property website. British buyers are leading the market but other European countries are also now looking at Greece with more frequency.

Villas, particularly with sea views, are leading the demand in the market. This is where Halcyon Developments Group’s Halcyon Hills development on the stunning island of Samos will come into its own when construction work begins following final documentation being signed off.

Samos features in one of Italy's most popular travel programs

The Italian broadcasting channel RAI3 completed its shootings for a new documentary film about Greece, especially the islands of the Northern Aegean Sea, Samos, Lesbos and Chios.

The documentary will be screened during the television programme Alle Falde Del Kilimangiaro, which is one of the most popular travel shows broadcasted by the Italian State Television every Sunday evening, appealing to an audience of about 10%, which equals to 1.000.000 – 1.500.000 viewers.

Why the smart money is investing in sustainable properties

Five star Greek spa resort Halcyon Hills was given a substantial write-up in Property Wire Confidential's most recent issue, commending the various eco-initiatives that the resort's architects plan to implement in the build. Featuring on the cover of the magazine, the resort appeared as one of just five properties highlighted in the 'We Like' pages of the publication.

The special report, written by Editor Ray Clancy and entitled "Why the smart money is investing in sustainable properties" detailed various sustainable initiatives being implemented at the resort, including natural heat transfer, water conservation, solar power, a seawater heat exchange system, green roofs, design for healthy airflow and more.

Greek island gems - Daily Express

The luxury beachfront resort of Halcyon Hills on the Greek island of Samos provides an opportunity for self-invested personal pension (SIPP) investors.

They can acquire a property with a guaranteed rental income of five per cent for nine years after which the developer is offering to buy back customers' properties at 180 per cent of the price they paid.

Interest in Greek property soars, with Samos stealing the limelight

Interest in Greek property has soared over the past month, according to leading property portal Rightmove Overseas, with islands including Samos receiving an exceedingly high level of searches.

Head of Overseas at Rightmove, Shameem Golamy, said, “In June, we saw searches increase for idyllic island locations as people look to escape the traditional UK summer downpours. Greek islands, most notably the Dodecanese island group - which includes Rhodes and Samos - attracted over 50% more searches month on month.”

Over Three Hundred Dignitaries Impressed at Halcyon Hills Launch Presentation

Managing Director Robin Barrasford recently travelled to Samos to present Halcyon Hills to an enthusiastic audience of over 300 local dignitaries including the island’s Mayor, business professionals and prominent local politicians.

Developer of Halcyon Hills Robin Barrasford recently held a launch and construction presentation to a packed venue at the Samos Hotel in the island’s capital. The presentation was a hugely successful meeting of over 300 people including construction companies and suppliers as well as local dignitaries and residents, all interested to find out how Halcyon Hills will affect the island both economically and environmentally.

Samos Enjoys Egyptian Queen Cleopatra’s Stamp of Approval

It was in 32 BC, prior to setting off to war with Octavius, that Cleopatra and her beloved husband Marc Antony spent an extravagant few weeks indulging on Samos and surprising local residents with their appetite for celebration.

Cleopatra, last Queen of independent Egypt,was a stunning woman whose Persian blood left her with a dark complexion and luxurious long hair which, it is said, she dyed a copper colour using henna. Born on January 13, 69 B.C., Cleopatra’s animated life took her through a series of four husbands before it ended abruptly at the age of 39 when she took her own life. Many a legend has sprung from the exotic and lavish existence of this renowned Queen, but a sure truth among the myths is that Cleopatra spent a period of time relaxing and indulging on the island of Samos with her long-haired, wealthy and influential husband, Roman leader Marc Antony.

Samos Among Greek Islands to Promote Food Tourism

The Seventh International Meetings and Incentives Conference has met in Athens to discuss the topic of ‘Valuing the Food Experience’. The discussion included ways in which Greece and the Greek islands could raise awareness of local food culture and encourage culinary tourism, in order to improve the food experience of visitors such as those on a Greek island holiday.