Ferryscanner and Sun of a Beach present The Great Greek Holiday

Ferryscanner, the leading European platform for online terry ticket booking, and Greek beachside lifestyle brand Sun of a Beach, have joined forces to co-create The Great Greek Holiday, a creative campaign celebrating the joy of exploration.

Launched in April, GGH aims to redefine the concept of Greek island hopping. The innovative competition was designed to reflect the modern traveler: authentic, creative, and capable of narrating the Greek summer through fresh eyes. When Rafael Papanikolaou was crowned the winner, he set off on June 1st on a trip to 40 Greek islands (!) with the mission to record and share his unique experiences.

The partnership

At the heart of the campaign is the desire to create a new, experiential narrative about Greece. The Great Greek Holiday was born from the meeting of two brands that share common values: a love of summer, an emphasis on detail, and an approach to travel as a life experience.

With a cash prize of €30,000, full ferry travel coverage from Ferryscanner and wardrobe support from Sun of a Beach, the winner is invited to travel, explore, and capture the Greek island experience through their lens.

The road to the finale

After the participation process opened in April via the Great Greek Holiday campaign site, thousands of people immediately chimed in with their personal stories and passion for the Greek Islands. The first phase of the competition ended on May 11th, when ten finalists were selected for their creativity and engaging personalities. They each participated in the Greek Greek Holiday Bootcamp on May 17th: a full-day, hands-on screening experience that included one-on-one interviews, content creation and presentations.

The three-member committee who made the final selection was composed of Travel Content Creator @Stef_Greece, Sun of a Beach co-founder Melina Pipsa, and Ferryscanner’s Marketing Director Alexia Kotsi. On May 23rd, first place was awarded to Rafael Papanikolaou for his authenticity, creativity and ability to connect with the audience in a natural way. The selection was the result of an evaluation of both his character and his creative approach.

Step 3: Live the Dream! The Great Greek Holiday begins – with the islands of Greece becoming the backdrop for an authentic summer experience.

The journey begins with audiences aboard

Raphael began his 40 island journey on Sunday, June 1st, and finished on August 28th. The public followed him on the official @greatgreekholiday and @ferryscanner Instagram channels. Through photos, videos, vlogs and spontaneous narratives, Rafael told the story of his epic summer adventure and the beauty, simplicity and magic of the Greek islands.

A new chapter in Greece’s tourism promotion

The Great Greek Holiday is a celebration of the richness and diversity of Greece, and the thousands of travelers that experience it each year through their own eyes. Ferryscanner and Sun of a Beach joined their expertise and creativity to capture the experience of the Greek Islands as we truly live it, love it, and, now, share it. We’re proud to have delivered such an exciting campaign from an industry partner who shares our love for Greek summer. Stay tuned for more!