Crete is set to host for the second consecutive year the Short Stay Conference Crete, the official conference of Stama Greece and the leading regional event for the vacation rental and alternative accommodation industry. The conference will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) in Heraklion.
This year’s edition brings together top companies from the international and Greek tourism markets, including Booking.com, Lighthouse, Hosthub, Vrbo, loggia by webhotelier|primalres, Radefy, LeaderStay, Hotelyzer, Beyond, Tourmie, TravelStaytion, etouri, and CreteVillas4U, confirming the conference’s growing reputation as a key reference point for Crete’s tourism and business community.
Key themes and international participation
The Short Stay Conference Crete 2025, with Hosthub as Grand Sponsor, will highlight the main trends, strategies, and challenges shaping the future of the alternative accommodation sector. Discussions will focus on topics such as:
- The evolution of the Cretan market compared to other Mediterranean destinations (Lighthouse)
- New technologies and Artificial Intelligence in bookings (Booking.com)
- Tax and regulatory developments affecting short-term rentals
- Automation and multichannel management solutions for small property managers (Hosthub)
- The luxury villa market and the changing expectations of high-end travelers (Vrbo & TravelStaytion)
The conference will also feature a panel discussion with institutional representatives, including POMIDA and the STAMA Association, while Giorgos Agrimanakis, Deputy Mayor of Finance and Tourism of the Municipality of Heraklion, will participate in a discussion on Crete’s strategy for reducing seasonality.
Highlights from the Short Stay Conference program
Lighthouse: Exclusive data and analysis on Crete’s tourism market, with comparisons to Malta, Cyprus, and Mallorca.
Hosthub: Practical solutions for small property managers aiming to operate at professional standards.
Booking.com: Emerging travel trends and the role of AI in shaping the future of tourism.
Vrbo: How data and platform tools empower its partners to succeed.
Beyond: Data-driven pricing and growth strategies.
TravelStaytion: Luxury and quality standards – what tomorrow’s traveler is looking for.
Check out the Program of Short Stay Conference Crete 2025
Who will attend
With Hosthub as Grand Sponsor, the Short Stay Conference Crete 2025 is addressed to:
- Property owners and managers of vacation rentals,
- Property management companies and suppliers,
- Executives from tourism organizations and OTAs,
- Investors, engineers, developers, and tourism professionals.
The event aims to be a hub of knowledge, networking, and experience-sharing, connecting Crete’s tourism sector with the latest tools, data, and ideas that define the future of hospitality.
POMIDA’s General Assembly to follow
Following the conclusion of the conference, the General Assembly of the Heraklion Property Owners Association (ENIDANI)—a key member of POMIDA—will take place. The event will include updates on recent developments in real estate, taxation, transactions, urban planning, and the land registry, presented by POMIDA President Stratos Paradias, who will also answer participants’ questions. Attendance is free for both association members and all participants of the Short Stay Conference Crete.
Goal: Professionalism and sustainable growth
The Short Stay Conference Crete 2025 will not only focus on technology but also on sustainable tourism development, season extension, and the institutional strengthening of the short-term rental sector.
According to the organizers, the Short Stay Conference Crete is an initiative that bridges entrepreneurship with innovation, offering Crete the opportunity to remain at the forefront of tourism development and to reinforce its position as a leader in the evolving short-stay accommodation industry.
