The Short Stay Conference 2021 (ex BnB Greece Conference) the largest conference for short-term rentals in Greece, was held digitally in January 2021 due to the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic(COVID-19). Despite the physical absence, the conference brought together industry professionals through an online platform, offering valuable content, contributions from leading speakers, and networking in a secure digital environment.
With topics that included trends in the short-term rentals market, new technologies, pandemic adaptations, and survival and growth strategies, the Short Stay Conference 2021 (ex BnB Greece Conference) was a benchmark for all professionals in the hospitality, tourism industry and short-term rental platforms.
Discover below all the highlights of the digital conference, watch on demand presentations, and stay informed about the future of short term rentals in Greece and internationally.
AirDNA Presentation: Data & trends in short-term rentals in 2021
AirDNA, a leading data analytics company for the short-term rentals market, presented at the Short Stay Conference 2021 (ex BnB Greece Conference) the latest trends, statistics and forecasts for short-term rentals in Greece and internationally, based on real data from platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
👉 Watch the presentation on demand and find out how the short-term rental market is evolving
Booking.com & Holidu: Strategies and developments in short-term rentals
The representatives of Booking.com and Holidu analyzed at the Short Stay Conference 2021 (ex BnB Greece Conference) the new strategies, travelers’ preferences and technological innovations that affect the short-term rentals market on a pan-European level.
European Panel: The Current Situation of Short-term Rentals in Europe
The Short Stay Conference 2021, (ex BnB Greece Conference) hosted a particularly important European panel discussion on the current state and regulatory landscape of short-term rentals in Europe.
The panel featured leading industry representatives Carlo Villaro Lassen (Secretary General, European Holiday Home Association, EHHA), Tom Rosenblum from Guesty, and Eduardo Miranda (President, ALEP). The panel was moderated by Vicky Trifona from BnB News, highlighting through a meaningful dialogue the challenges, adaptation strategies and opportunities for the future of the market in Europe.
Digital Nomads & Remote Workers: Opportunities for Greek Hosts
At the Short Stay Conference 2021 (ex BnB Greece Conference), BnB News presented a dynamic session dedicated to the emerging global market of digital nomads and remote workers.
Through data on the habits, characteristics, accommodation preferences and favourite cities of modern nomads, it analysed the ways in which Greek hosts can attract and satisfy this rapidly growing group of travellers.
Evangelia Papadimitriou (Architect Engineer – Interior Designer, HostCompass) and George Voutsis (Head of Marketing, Holihouse) participated in the presentation, providing valuable practical advice and experience from the Greek market.
Legislation, certifications & collective initiatives in short-term rentals
Premium Villas & Services
At the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference), two leading brands in luxury villa management – Think Villa and The White Key Villas – analysed market trends, shared forecasts for 2021 and offered practical advice for upgrading services and targeted growth of Greek hosts. Participants included Valia Kokkinou (Founder & CEO – Think Villas) and Dimitris Giannakopoulos (Managing Director – The White Key Villas), moderated by Vicky Trifona and Stathis Karopoulos of BnB News.
Sustainability & Energy Identity
Sotiris Mylonas presented sustainability practices that Greek hosts can implement for more sustainable accommodation. This was followed by an interview with Konstantinos Laskos, President of the Panhellenic Association of Certified Inspectors, on the energy certificate requirement from 1/1/2021. The session concluded with a discussion on the importance of quality certifications, with the participation of George Paliouras (Rapsody Cruises) and Konstantinos Stratakis (Heloni Apartments), moderated by Stathis Karopoulos from BnB News.
The Greek Associations in 2021
At the 3rd Short Stay Conference (BnB Greece Conference), Dora Dimas (President SODIA) and Andreas Chiou (President PASYDA) presented the actions of their associations, commented on the developments in the Greek market and shared the prospects for 2021 in the short-term rental sector. The discussion was moderated by Vicky Trifona and Stathis Karopoulos from BnB News..
Stama Greece, Home Plus & Online Sales Channels
Presentation of Stama Greece
In his interview at the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference), Nassos Gavalas presented the newly established Association of Short Stay Companies (Stama Greece). He talked about the reasons for its establishment, the objectives and development strategy of the Association, while he addressed an open call to all professionals in the sector to rally and claim the recognition that the market of short-term rentals & villas deserves.
The discussion concluded with his predictions for the coming year, in coordination with Stathis Karopoulos from BnB News.
Home Plus
Home Plus has developed three specialized services for the comprehensive support of its partners: the BnB Clean (certified cleaning services), BnB Store (product supply) and BnB Greece (booking services).
Lambros Palatzas, Managing Director of the company, presented each service in detail, explaining how they can help Greek hosts to upgrade their hospitality.
The interview was moderated by Stathis Karopoulos from BnB News.
Online selling channels
The pandemic has highlighted the vital importance of online selling channels for hosts and property managers seeking more bookings and increased revenue. OTA’s (Online Travel Agencies) platforms offer security and reliability in transactions, but the need for a multi-channel online presence is now more imperative than ever.
How can a short-term rental professional (STR professional) tailor their sales channel? What is the value of expertise in the proper use of each platform? And which strategy maximizes the performance of online channels?
Stella Tsiakalou gave answers to all these questions through her presentation entitled “Explore the Online Selling Channels for Maximizing Bookings and Requests” at the 3rd Short Stay Conference (BnB Greece Conference).
Development & expertise in short -term rentals: Platforms, pricing & management
Social Media for Hosts
Social media has changed the way we communicate, promote and sell.
In the world of short-term rentals, they are now a key tool for any host who wants to increase their reputation and bookings. Through strategy and the right content, even small hosts can claim the attention of the public and stand out.
Like any journey, the digital journey on social media needs a good… captain.
At the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference), Konstantina Pierri, founder of Socean.eu, presented practical tips and strategies on how Greek hosts can effectively use social media both to attract new guests and to strengthen the loyalty of their existing customers.
Channel Management Made in Greece
Hosthub (ex Syncbnb), a purely Greek channel manager company, excels internationally by offering sophisticated synchronization tools for short-term rentals professionals.
At the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference), Alexandros Karavitis, Co-Founder & CEO, presented how hosts can make the most of the platform’s capabilities to optimize bookings, save time and grow their business.
At the end of the presentation, he also revealed three exclusive offers for conference attendees.
Rentability: All-in-One Solution
Rentability presented at the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference) the All-in-One Vacation Rentals Solution, an integrated tool for hosts and property managers.
Thanasis Athanasopoulos, Managing Director of the company, explained how through Rentability PMS, Channel Manager, Booking Engine and Website creation, a professional can easily and efficiently manage reservations, communication, housekeeping, receipts, documents and fully automate their processes.
Rentability PMS is the most complete Greek accommodation management system, fully compliant with short term rental legislation and accompanied by continuous technical support.
Smartbnb: From Solo to Franchisor
With its presentation “Scale your Airbnb Management Operation: from Solo to Franchisor”, Smartbnb participated dynamically in the 3rd Short Stay Conference (BnB Greece Conference), presenting the growth opportunities it offers to its partners.
On 26 January, delegates were informed on how they can increase their income and optimise the performance of their properties by working with Smartbnb.
During the presentation, owners from Crete, Mykonos and Kavala shared their experience and the benefits they have gained from working with one of the leading property managers in Greece.
Mint: Integrated Management
At the 3rd Short Stay Conference (ex BnB Greece Conference), participants attended the presentation of Mint, one of the largest short term rental property management companies.
Nikos Periklakis, Property Evaluation Director of the company, analyzed the basic steps that an owner must follow in order to efficiently and effectively utilize his property.
The presentation covered topics such as property preparation, promotion and marketing, the necessary technological tools, working with external providers, as well as basic tax and legal issues that every host should be aware of.
Dynamic Pricing in the New Era
Przemyslaw Jeziorski, Associate Professor of Marketing at Berkeley, Haas School of Business, presented at the 3rd Short Stay Conference ( ex BnB Greece Conference) the importance of dynamic pricing in the era of uncertainty brought by the pandemic.
With tourism activity abruptly halted, many landlords resorted to drastic price reductions to attract the few guests or to offer accommodation to people in need, such as health care workers and vulnerable groups.
Others, especially in summer destinations, have raised prices to recoup losses. But, as Jeziorski explained , such practices cannot be applied vertically by professional managers seeking long-term trust and sustainable development.
Dynamic pricing is the strategy that leads to success – especially when implemented correctly, even in times of crisis.
