12 small hotels in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace face auction proceedings
The figure is part of a wider trend affecting small and family-run tourism businesses across Northern Greece. A total of 81 tourism businesses in Northern Greece have either been put up for auction since the beginning of 2026 or are scheduled to go under the hammer by the end of the year, according to data reported by Voria.gr.
Of those, 48 are located in Central Macedonia, 21 in Western Macedonia and 12 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The number in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace has risen from nine a year earlier. In 2024, 11 tourism businesses in the region were listed for auction, according to the same dataset.
81 TOURISM BUSINESSES ACROSS NORTHERN GREECE
The reported figures cover tourism businesses listed for auction during the year and scheduled proceedings through the end of 2026. Of the 81 businesses identified across Northern Greece, 17 are scheduled to go under the hammer before the end of the year, with 11 of those located in Central Macedonia.
Starting prices reportedly range from €20,000 to €4.87 million, depending on the size and characteristics of the properties and the claims underlying the proceedings.
The majority of the properties that have already gone to auction reportedly failed to attract bidders, while some proceedings were suspended and scheduled to be repeated.
One hotel in Kastoria, Western Macedonia, is cited as an example of a property returning to auction after five months, this time with a starting price of €4.87 million.
AUCTION NUMBERS REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE
The figures indicate that the number of tourism businesses entering auction proceedings in Northern Greece has remained at broadly similar levels over the past three years.
In 2025, 89 tourism businesses were listed for auction: 52 in Central Macedonia, 28 in Western Macedonia and nine in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
In 2024, the corresponding total was 75, including 44 in Central Macedonia, 20 in Western Macedonia and 11 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The figures therefore point to continued financial pressure on a segment of the tourism sector despite strong overall tourism demand in Greece.
WHY SMALL FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES ARE UNDER PRESSURE
The report attributes the difficulties facing smaller tourism businesses to a combination of accumulated debt and structural challenges in adapting to the modern tourism market.
Among the factors cited are high borrowing costs and legacy non-performing loans, limited access to specialised management staff, outdated management practices, insufficient resources for digital marketing and difficulties financing renovations and energy-efficiency upgrades.
Businesses in regional areas also face the additional challenge of shorter tourism seasons, which can leave accommodation establishments operating for only part of the year and put pressure on year-round cash flow.
Tourism industry representatives cited in the report argue that targeted financing and modernisation tools, alongside measures to extend the tourism season in Northern Greece, could help reduce the sector's dependence on a limited number of peak months.
The auction figures, however, concern properties at different stages of legal and financial proceedings and do not by themselves establish that all of the businesses are insolvent or that the auctions will ultimately result in a sale.
