Makedonia Palace Back In Business

Greece’s renowned Makedonia Palace in Thessaloniki reopened its doors for this year’s tourism season on Thursday, 14 March, under the new management of company Black and White of Greek-Russian Ivan Savvidis.

The hotel shut its doors on 31 December 2012 and until then was managed by the Daskalantonakis Group for the last 16 years.

According to press reports, the hotel has opened after undergoing a slight renovation and rooms have already been booked by mainly Russian and Israeli customers.

It is reminded that Mr. Savvidis’ company had submitted the highest bid for the hotels’ monthly lease, at 95,000 euros, during a public tender for the short-term (12-month) lease of the Makedonia Palace launched by owner IKA (Greece’s main social security fund).

When the Makedonia Palace shut its doors last December, 120 workers were employed there. Under the terms of the tender, the new management is obliged to retain 92 percent of the hotel’s staff.

IKA is expected to announce a new tender for the long-term lease of the hotel (possibly for 25-30 years) sometime this year.

Makedonia Palace is comprised of 260 rooms and 24 suites.