GREECE: Athens Attracts More Hotel Investments In 2018

A number of new hotels are expected to open in the Greek capital and Attica the wider Athens region this year, according to the latest report on Greece’s hospitality industry by GBR Consulting.

Starting from the center of Athens, the former 314-room Athens Ledra hotel and formerly the Ledra Marriott is expected to re-open in 2018 as the Athens Hyatt Regency, following an eight million euros renovation.

This will be Hyatt’s first presence in Athens as currently it only operates the Hyatt Regency in Thessaloniki.

The Athens Ledra was acquired in June 2017 by the international real estate firm Hines and the European real estate investment platform Henderson Park.

The Yiannis Daskalandonakis Group will manage the hotel.

A new boutique hotel is expected to open in the upscale district of Kolonaki, at the corner of Irodotou & Ipsilantou Streets, by the real estate entity of the Efmorfidis family (Coco Mat).

Press reports have mentioned a total investment of 2.5 million euros.

Meanwhile, opposite the Wyndham Grand Athens, the US chain Wyndham is currently renovating a property for the opening of the 94-suites Wyndham Grand Residences & Suites in cooperation with Zeus International.

The group will also launch its brand Dolce Hotels & Resorts in Attica through the opening of the 346-room Dolce Attica Riviera hotel at the former Mare Nostrum hotel in Vravrona, which will mainly target the MICE segment.

This year, Wyndham will also introduce its second Ramada Hotel in Greece with the 129-room Ramada Attica Riviera hotel at the former Aquamarina hotel in Mati, on the east coast of Attica.

All three units are planned to open in the spring of 2018.

Moreover, it was announced in 2016 that Marriott International will transform the 366-room Metropolitan Hotel Athens to the new Marriott Hotel Athens and open by 2018.

Also, following the opening of two new hotels in Athens,NHLFIX and NLHGERANI in 2017, the Neighborhood Lifestyle Hotels chain is said to be planning to further expand their presence in the Greek capital by the end of 2018.

There seems interest to further develop the hotel sector in Piraeus, Greece’s biggest and busiest port.

Currently, only 42 hotels are officially registered in Piraeus, of which one 4-star and one 5-star unit.

A master plan by the Cosco managed Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) revealed the expansion of its cruise facilities, creation of a large shipping and repairs yard servicing up to 450 vessels including mega yachts and the construction of new hotels within the port premises.

In addition, the Douzoglou family has applied for subsidy under the development law to upgrade the Mistral Hotel in Kastela in Piraeus.

According to GBR Consulting, there are other large hotel projects in Piraeus are also rumored in the market.



Tourism Observer

GREECE: Wyndham Hotel Group Opens In Greece

Wyndham Hotel Group announced that accessible luxury is coming to Athens when the Wyndham Grand Athens, the first Wyndham Hotel Group hotel in Greece, opens in the city centre early next year. Travel is the best excuse to enjoy the grand things in life, and Wyndham Grand hotels and resorts offer truly unforgettable travel experiences.

Wyndham Grand is decidedly not pretentious, but approachable by design, featuring pristine guestrooms, relaxing spas, one-of-a kind dining experiences, and more. The Wyndham Grand Athens will be situated on Karaiskaki Place (2, Meg. Alexandrou St.), where Zeus International, a company that operates nine hotels across Eastern Europe, is transforming the building owned by VIOHALCO which formerly housed the Hotel Athens Imperial.

When renovations are complete, the Wyndham Grand Athens will boast 273 rooms, 2,500 sq. m. of conference and event space, a restaurant, a bar, a spa and an amazing roof-garden of 450 sq. m. with a pool and a 360° view of the city skyline. In addition, the hotel’s proximity to the Metro and many of Athens’ cultural points of interest will make it a destination for business and leisure travellers alike.

Dan Ruff, President and Managing Director EMEA, for Wyndham Hotel Group, said: “Wyndham Grand hotels are located in some of the world’s most sought after destinations, including Shanghai, Istanbul, Doha, Salzburg, Chicago, Orlando and now Athens. This is only our first stop in Greece, as we see opportunities for many of our brands across the country, from city centres such as Athens and Thessaloniki to resort destinations in the Greek islands and mainland.”

Haris Siganos, Founder of Zeus International, noted: “Our Company is engaged in a variety of consulting and advisory projects from hotel management and development to turnaround management. We have been monitoring the Greek market for the right hospitality investment opportunity.

We believe that Athens has been missing a flagship hotel offering a one-of-a-kind experience with a compelling local flavour, and we intend to change this when the Wyndham Grand Athens opens next year.”

All Wyndham Grand hotels in the region participate in Wyndham Rewards®, the simple-to-use, revolutionary loyalty programme from Wyndham Hotel Group that offers members a generous points earning structure along with a flat, free-night redemption rate in 73 countries across the world – the first of its kind for a major hotel rewards programme. To learn more or to join for free, guests should visit