Greece: Green Makeover Reshapes Hospitality Industry

The Greek tourism sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by climate and energy crises, and the growing need for sustainable development.

Large hotel chains and smaller accommodations are rethinking their operations, reducing their environmental footprint, and investing in smart technologies and energy-efficient upgrades.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is leading efforts to make tourism more sustainable. The Building Environmental Research Group is demonstrating how hotels can become greener and more cost-effective. Dr. Vasilis Ntouros highlights that hotel energy use can be cut by up to 72% through upgrades like better insulation, modern HVAC systems, and smart energy management.

Over €1 billion was invested in the hotel sector in 2024, with nearly 20% allocated to energy-efficiency projects, including solar panels, heat pumps, and smart systems.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, in collaboration with the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Ministry of Tourism, is developing a new hotel classification system based on environmental performance.