The Short Stay Conference 2025, the official conference of Stama, concluded with great success, featuring prominent speakers, exhibitors, as well as property owners and managers in the short-term rental sector.
In his opening speech, Stama President Nassos Gavalas emphasized: “Today, we are not just at another hospitality conference. Today marks a milestone for short-term rentals, not only in Greece but also on a pan-European level.” Referring to Stama’s evolution, he stated: “We started as a small group, and three years later, Stama has grown to 248 members, representing tens of thousands of property owners across the country. This sends a strong message: Short-term rentals are not a marginal activity but a key pillar of tourism and the economy.” He also urged non-member property owners and managers to join Stama, stressing: “The more we are, the stronger we become. Unity, advocacy, and strategy are essential to securing the future of our industry.”
Short-term rentals continue to grow
“Short-term rentals are growing stronger,” said Alexandros Karavitis, CEO of Hosthub. Addressing unpredictable challenges such as climate change, he encouraged property owners and managers to adopt sustainable practices and insure their properties. Regarding seismic activity in Santorini, he noted that cancellations in short-term rentals have doubled compared to last year, now reaching 50% of bookings (compared to 24% during the same period in the previous year). Finally, he advised managers to stay updated on technological advancements and adopt the right tools, warning: “Those who resist technology will be left behind.”
Tax obligations in short-term rentals
The pressing issue of taxation in short-term rentals was addressed by Angelos Kouros and Apostolos Boutos, advisors to the Governor of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). They highlighted that over the past three years, registered listings have increased from 139,000 to 177,000 in 2023, reaching 213,000 by the end of 2024. This surge was driven by the ban on issuing new Property Registration Numbers (AMA) in central Athens, effective from early 2025, prompting many to register their properties preemptively, even if they were not yet listed on rental platforms.
Regarding declared income, figures have risen significantly:
2022: €544 million
2023: €746 million
2024: €874 million
Moreover, tax compliance in the sector has reached an impressive 95%.
Short-term rental standards and regulations
Discussing the Ministry of Tourism’s legislative framework for short-term rental property standards, engineer Manos Kranidis emphasized that the removal of the “primary residence” requirement was a major success for POMIDA and Stama. As a result, properties classified as “primary use” can now be utilized for short-term rentals, excluding auxiliary spaces such as storage rooms or stables. The primary condition remains legal compliance. Experts also provided clarifications on all the prerequisites outlined in the new law.
Short-term rentals as a driver of economic growth
The industry’s role in local economic development and entrepreneurship was highlighted in speeches by:
Stratos Paradias, President of POMIDA
Giannis Chatzitheodosiou, President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce
Theodoros Kapralos, President of the Piraeus Commercial Association
Paschalis Karagiannis, member of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Paradias also underlined POMIDA’s efforts in advocating for the industry’s interests, particularly in removing the “primary residence” restriction from the Ministry of Tourism’s legislation. He also mentioned the federation’s legal challenge against the imposition of the Business Tax on every property in management companies’ portfolios.
The Greek short-term rental market and competition
Data presented by PriceLabs provided valuable insights into Greece’s short-term rental market.
As of December 2024, approximately 132,500 properties were listed on rental platforms across Greece. Bookings throughout 2024 saw a significant increase compared to 2023, with overnight stays rising by 16% year-over-year and peaking in August at over 2.5 million stays.
Occupancy rates in Greece reached 80% in August but dropped to just over 25% in January, following similar trends seen in other Mediterranean markets. Malta and Portugal recorded higher occupancy rates than Greece, while Croatia saw lower figures except during the summer season.
Within Greece, Athens led in occupancy, though numbers declined during the summer months, as expected. Thessaloniki followed with a more stable demand pattern, while Crete saw an aggressive surge in bookings during the summer season.
A breakdown of Greece’s short-term rental market revealed:
44% of managers operate 2–10 properties
35% manage a single property
11% oversee 11–50 properties
Only 10% manage 50 or more properties
Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis in favor of short-term rentals
The conference was also attended by the Mayor of Piraeus, Yiannis Moralis, who expressed his support for the short-term rental industry, emphasizing its significant contribution to the local economy. He noted that short-term rentals play a crucial role in enhancing the tourism appeal of Piraeus, attracting more visitors and creating new opportunities for local businesses.
During his speech, he stressed the need for a balanced regulatory framework that ensures sustainable growth while also protecting the interests of residents and businesses. “Short-term rentals are now an integral part of the tourism ecosystem. We must approach them with a development-oriented mindset, leveraging their benefits while addressing any challenges that may arise,” he stated.
Mayor Moralis also highlighted the importance of collaboration between municipalities, property owners, and industry stakeholders to create a well-regulated environment that benefits both the city and its visitors. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote tourism development and economic growth in Piraeus.
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