Behind the scenes of one of Greece’s most trusted charter companies
We spoke with Olympia Galanaki, Head of Chartering at Athenian Yachts, one of the leading Greek charter companies with over a decade of experience at ICE.
She shares how the company balances consistency with growth, why service quality always comes first, and how ICE helped them build lasting partnerships, especially in the growing crewed charter market.
1. Can you present yourself and the company you represent?
My name is Olympia Galanaki, and I am the Head of the Chartering Department at Athenian Yachts.
We are a Greek yacht charter company with a long history in both bareboat and crewed charters. We manage a large fleet, focusing on high-quality service and long-term relationships with both clients and partners.
2. What makes your charter offer different from others?
We own and manage most of our fleet, which allows us to maintain high standards. Our team is experienced, responsive, and truly cares about the guest experience. We also try to be fair and flexible with our partners.
3. How do you stay competitive during difficult seasons?
We stay close to our partners, follow market trends, adjust pricing early, and offer reliable service that builds trust. Reputation is key during difficult seasons.
4. How do you balance between offering discounts and keeping value?
We try to avoid extreme discounts. Instead, we offer fair pricing and highlight the quality and support we provide. We also focus on building loyal relationships rather than chasing every booking.
5. Do you change your offer every year, or do you focus more on consistency?
We focus on consistency, but we always improve our service and renew our fleet. It’s important to be stable but also to evolve with the market.
6. How did you start in crewed charters, and did ICE influence that move?
We started in crewed charters gradually, as we saw demand grow. ICE helped a lot because it gave us direct access to professionals who were interested in that segment.
7. How has client behavior changed over the past few years?
Clients are more informed now and expect quick replies. They also care more about flexibility and clear communication.
Many of them use online platforms to compare options, and their main goal is often to get the best price. I feel this has changed their behavior, they don’t pay as much attention to quality anymore, which makes the market more difficult and competitive for us.
8. Why do you keep coming back to ICE for 10 years in a row?
Because it works! It’s well organized, we meet great partners, and it’s a chance to strengthen relationships and stay updated.
9. What is the biggest change you’ve seen at ICE from the first edition until today?
It has grown a lot, more exhibitors, better structure, more focused meetings. It feels more professional every year.
10. How many new partners have you met through ICE over the years?
Many! Every year we meet new agents and reconnect with old ones. It’s hard to count, but ICE is definitely one of our best sources of new partnerships.
11. Has ICE helped you create long-term partnerships? Can you share an example?
Yes, definitely! For example, we met Zsolt Bossányi from FIX YACHTING back in 2017, and since then, we’ve had a really great working relationship.
Continuing the journey
Something I really love about working in chartering is the opportunity to help people create unforgettable memories at sea. Every season brings new challenges, but it’s very satisfying when clients are happy and come back to us again.
One challenge we overcame recently was adapting quickly during the pandemic, finding ways to keep service quality high despite all difficulties. Our goal for the future is to keep growing steadily while maintaining the personal touch that makes our company special.
For the future, we want to keep growing steadily without losing the personal touch that makes us different. We look forward to many more years of successful collaboration with ICE and all our partners.
