The ShortStay Conference by Stama 2025 has once again demonstrated its dynamic role as the leading conference for the short term rental, serviced apartments and luxury villas industry.
At a time when the hospitality sector is rapidly evolving, this year’s event in Athens was a benchmark for professionals, property owners and accommodation managers.
With the participation of leading speakers, representatives from major platforms, market players, as well as experts in technology and tax developments, the conference offered valuable knowledge and practical tools for success in the modern short-term hospitality market.
Short-term rentals: An industry on the rise
During his opening speech at the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025, the President of Stama, Nassos Gavalas, highlighted the strategic importance of short-term rentals as a key pillar of tourism development and the Greek economy.
As he stressed, short-term rental is not a marginal activity, but a dynamic and integral part of the modern Greek hospitality product.
His strong message to property owners and accommodation managers was clear.
He invited all industry professionals to actively participate in Stama, contributing together in shaping the future of the short-term hospitality market in Greece.
Alexandros Karavitis, CEO of Hosthub, presented at the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025 the new and critical challenges facing short term rental professionals.
Among these, climate change, natural disasters and the need for technological adaptation are now key factors for the sustainability of the industry. Particular reference was made to property safety, but also to the increasing trend of cancellations of bookings in Santorini due to the seismic activity in the area.
His intervention highlighted the importance of prevention and flexibility for accommodation owners and managers who want to remain competitive in an ever-changing environment.
Taxation and new regulations
One of the central and most discussed topics of the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025 was the taxation of short-term rentals, an area that has a major impact on both property owners and professional tourist accommodation managers.
The advisors to the Governor of the AADE, Angelos Kouros and Apostolos Boutos, presented in detail the latest data on tax compliance, highlighting the significant increase in registrations in the Short Term Rental Registry and the impressive performance of 95% in compliance with tax obligations.
The discussion, held to a packed audience, was moderated by Stama’s treasurer, Vassilis Argyrakis, who raised key questions and highlighted the importance of continuous information and cooperation between industry professionals and institutional bodies.
The presentation by representatives of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAEA) reinforced the debate around the legality, transparency and regulation of the short-term rental market, confirming the need for responsible operation and active participation in shaping the framework governing the taxation of Airbnb and other similar platforms.
Highlights from the debate on the Taxation of Short Term Rentals
📌 Main comments:
Angelos Kouros – Advisor to the Governor of the Hellenic Tax Authority
“Tax compliance in the short-term rental sector has now reached 95%. This shows the seriousness and commitment of professionals in the field to comply with the legal framework.”
Apostolos Boutos – Advisor to the Governor of AADE
“The strengthening of the Short Term Hire Register is a key contribution to transparency and the fight against unfair activity in the market.”
Vassilis Argyrakis – Treasurer Stama
“The participation of professionals in the public debate is crucial for the evolution of the institutional framework. Taxation is not a threat, but a tool to legitimize and develop the sector.”
The new bill of the Ministry of Tourism
In the context of the presentations of the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025, engineer Manos Kranidis presented the main provisions of the new bill of the Ministry of Tourism concerning the short-term rental of properties in Greece. As he pointed out, the new regulations now allow the legal exploitation of properties with the use of “main residence ” for short-term rentals (e.g. through Airbnb or Booking), which offers significant flexibility and convenience to accommodation owners and managers. On the contrary, the use of ancillary, semi-basement or unlicensed premises for the same purpose is explicitly prohibited, in an effort to ensure the quality of the tourism product and legality in the industry.
The discussion was moderated by Stelios Christakis, board member of Stama and founder of Tourmie.
The economic impact of the sector
Short-term renting has become one of the most dynamic pillars of local economic development, contributing substantially both to boosting employment and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across the country. During the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025, this topic was highlighted through an extremely interesting institutional debate, which was attended by leading representatives of the business world and organised ownership.
The President of POMIDA, Stratos Paradias, stressed the importance of short term rentals as a tool of economic freedom for property owners and as a driver of local development, especially in areas that do not attract mass tourism.
At the same time, Yannis Hadjitheodosiou, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the positive impact of this activity for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, from the local bakery and cafeteria to cleaning and maintenance services.
In the same vein, Theodoros Capralos, president of the Piraeus Trade Association, pointed out that tourist mobility through short-term leases directly boosts retail, catering and other services, increasing liquidity in the local market and offering new employment opportunities.
The common line of all positions was clear: the short-term hospitality industry should continue to operate with a clear regulatory framework, but without restrictions affecting the micro-economy and the right of owners to the legal use of their property.
One of the most impressive data presented at the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025 came from PriceLabs, a world-class company in the field of dynamic pricing and data analytics for short-term rental. The presentation was delivered by Marie Fages, Hospitality and Short-Term Rental Specialist at PriceLabs, who presented data confirming the strong upward trend of the industry in Greece.
According to her data, in 2024, short-term rental bookings recorded a 16% increase compared to 2023, reinforcing Greece’s position as a leading hospitality destination in Europe. Particular emphasis was placed on the month of August, which set an all-time record with over 2.5 million overnight stays on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo.
Marie Fages further analysed market trends, noting that travellers’ preference for personalised accommodation experiences, such as boutique accommodation, luxury villas and serviced apartments, is shaping a new landscape for industry professionals. These statistics underline the importance of technology, pricing strategy and quality upgrading of accommodation for the sustainable growth of the short-term rental market in Greece.
The Mayor of Piraeus supports short-term rentals
In the framework of the Short Stay Conference by Stama 2025, a particularly important thematic session was held with the participation of the Mayor of Piraeus, Yannis Moralis, which focused on the tourism development of Piraeus and the city’s strategy for strengthening hospitality. The discussion was moderated by Vicky Trifona, editor-in-chief of BnB News, contributing with her pertinent interventions and questions to highlight the essential issues around short-term rentals and local tourism policies.
Yannis Moralis presented the development vision of the Municipality of Piraeus and stressed the crucial role that short-term rentals play in the tourism identity and economic empowerment of the city. As he pointed out, Piraeus, as an important gateway to the country via cruise, has all the tools to become a stand-alone accommodation destination, beyond the simple transit point to islands.
During his remarks, he stressed that bookings through platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com are boosting areas outside the traditional centre, breathing new life into the neighbourhood, local entrepreneurship and commerce. The Mayor also presented the Municipality’s plans to improve tourism infrastructure, the integrated development of the cruise port, as well as the promotion of sustainable urban regeneration projects that will enhance the coastal identity of Piraeus.
His intervention highlighted the importance of cooperation between local authorities and short-term hospitality professionals in order to shape a modern, regulated and sustainable tourism model for Piraeus in the next decade.
Innovations and technological developments
The conference hosted a series of presentations and workshops on dynamic pricing and technology.
Beyond and PriceLabs presented sophisticated dynamic pricing strategies, while Hostaway ‘s Chris Henly spoke about the transition to automated booking management systems.
Daniela Derin (Marbella Holidays) discussed how social media and direct bookings can help reduce dependence on the big platforms and improve profitability.
Praktiker Hellas highlighted the importance of accessibility as a business opportunity in short-term rentals.
Green Evolution SA and Rens reported on sustainability and energy saving practices.
The new trends in travel experiences
According to research presented at the conference, 2025 travellers are now looking for self-improvement and personal development experiences. Boomers are refusing to limit their travel due to age, while men are seeking new travel experiences that challenge traditional stereotypes of masculinity.
Among the most popular destinations in 2024, Attica has the largest share (23%), followed by Chania (12%), Corfu and the South Aegean (10%).
Techniques for the transition to luxury hospitality were analysed by etouri and Bill & John, while The Raise Projects team analysed the dynamics of innovative accommodation and how they can attract new categories of travellers.
Workshops: Practical tools for professionals
ShortStay Conference 2025 hosted ten (10) specialized workshops on topics such as:
- Content strategies for increased bookings (Vrbo)
- Automation of billing and reservation management (Loggia, WebHotelier)
- Risk management and property insurance (CoverCat)
- Site design and branding (InterSanta)
The workshops provided practical knowledge and tools, allowing participants to strengthen their strategy.
Conclusions and perspectives for 2025
The ShortStay Conference by Stama 2025 confirmed that the short-term rental market is evolving rapidly, both in terms of regulatory framework and new technologies and growth strategies.
2025 is expected to be a year of adaptation and innovation, with growth opportunities remaining strong, but challenges requiring strategy and flexibility from industry professionals.
