Hilton Athens Celebrates 50 Years In The Greek Capital

The Hilton Terpsichore ballroom in the ’70s.

20 April 1963 – Conrad Hilton inaugurates the Hilton Athens with Greek co-ordinating minister, Panagiotis Papaligouras, and the president of Ioniki company, Stratis Andreadis.

In April 1963, exactly 50 years ago, a landmark hotel opened its doors in Athens marking a new era of prosperity and development for the Greek tourism.

The official inauguration of the Hilton Athens, which took place on 20 April 1963 followed by a two-day celebration, gathered distinguished guests from all corners of the world and constituted an unprecedented social event for the city of Athens.

“I agree with those who believe that the Hilton hotel in Athens is the most beautiful Hilton hotel in the world,” said the founder of the company, Conrad Hilton, while present during the inauguration ceremony.

Modern architecture

The first international chain hotel which had ever opened in Athens was indeed a remarkable building of an unprecedented size and innovative services, while from an architectural point of view it combined an imposing magnificence with the minimal style of Ancient Greece.

The then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis examining the model of the hotel.

The architectural team of the Hilton Athens consisted of Emanuel Vourecas, Procopius Vassiliades, Spyros Staikos and Anthony Georgiades.

Hilton Athens was indeed one of the buildings that defined the architectural aesthetics of the ‘60s in Greece and, despite its cosmopolitan character, featured some powerful Greek elements thanks to the use of the Pentelic marble and the monumental artwork of the facade by Yannis Moralis, one of the most important 20th-century Greek artists.

A celebrity magnet

Ingmar bergman and his wife at the Hilton’s Galaxy. Bar.

All these years, numerous celebrities have passed the threshold of the Hilton Athens: heads of states, famous artists and renowned scientists.

From Aristotle Onassis to Frank Sinatra and from Ingmar Bergman to Anthony Quinn, Hilton Athens has always been the point of reference for the international jet set. At the same time, the symbolic hotel has always been the favorite meeting point of Athenians, who have tried their first American hamburger and club sandwich at the Byzantino Restaurant or tasted their first cocktail at the Galaxy Bar.

Julie Nixon Eisenhower, daughter of Richard Nixon, at Hilton Athens.

Meeting place for major events

On the occasion of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Hilton was fully renovated by the renowned Greek architects Alexandros Tombazis and Charis Bougadelis.

In 2004, Hilton Athens was the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, while in 2011 it was the headquarters of the organizing committee of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens.

Hilton Gallery – the first art gallery in Athens

Hilton Athens has been functioning in a multidimensional way in the city of Athens.

The Hilton Athens pool area in the ’70s.

It established the first art gallery in Athens, the so-called “Hilton Gallery” through the relationship with Marilena Liacopoulou which resulted in a series of historical exhibitions from 1968 until 1972.

Today, Hilton Athens does not just expose art as part of the hotel decoration but incorporates famous art pieces in its whole existence.

Apart from a permanent exhibition, Hilton Athens is constantly investing efforts in culture by hosting periodical exhibitions of Greek and foreign artists in its large, luminous lobby. These initiatives enhance the commitment of the hotel towards the enrichment of the Athenian art scene.

Hilton Athens is not just a hotel, but is has become an integrated part of the city’s social, cultural and business life.

50 years in Athens!

On the occasion of its 50-year anniversary, Hilton Athens has created an anniversary accommodation package and has launched a photo exhibition on Facebook, while it is in the process of preparing a special anniversary issue of the Hilton Athens magazine which is going to circulate in the beginning of May.