Athens’ Grande Bretagne Hotel Celebrates 150th Birthday with Documentary Screening

Offering breathtaking views of the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, the Greek Parliament and Lycabettus Hill, the Grande Bretagne today is a multi-awarded landmark luxury hotel within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, sites and the business district. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne

The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens celebrated a milestone of historical significance on Tuesday with the premiere of the “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” documentary.

Marking a poignant tribute to the illustrious journey of the Hotel Grande Bretagne, the documentary commemorates the 150th anniversary of the hotel with a rich tapestry of narratives and insights.

The screening took place at Pallas Theater in central Athens on April 9, the day of the hotel’s actual birthday. The premiere was attended by politicians, hospitality professionals and the media, among others.

Screening of the “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” documentary at the Pallas Theater in Athens. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Representing the President of the Greek Government, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, noted that the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens stands as an esteemed institution which has associated its name with the highest quality standards and has “become synonymous” with refined and luxury hospitality.

“It is part of the city’s history, serving as a landmark that has significantly influenced the identity of the Greek capital,” Kefalogianni said.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Through the years, the Hotel Grande Bretagne has been intertwined with significant events in modern Greek history, both triumphant and challenging.

“It is an iconic symbol of hospitality in the Greek capital,” the tourism minister said.

On the day of the documentary’s premiere, it was exactly 150 years ago, on April 9, 1874, when entrepreneurs Savvas Kentros and Efstathios Lampsas co-signed the official agreement to jointly run the establishment.

With its unprecedented opulence, the glittering hotel was heralded as Athens’ finest.

Screening of the “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” documentary at the Pallas Theater in Athens. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Since then many historical events took place in the city of Athens and through the course of time the hotel changed ownership hands.

Today the hotel is owned by Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A., a subsidiary company of the Laskaridis family.

Speaking before the screening, Chloe Laskaridis, president of the Board of Directors of Lampsa, highlighted that the Hotel Grande Bretagne isn’t merely a historic hotel.

Lampsa Hellenic Hotels President Chloe Laskaridis. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

“As portrayed in the documentary, it is an institution entirely connected with the country’s history and among the rare European hotels celebrating such a significant anniversary,” Laskaridis said.

Narrated by Greek journalist Pavlos Tsimas, who was also the film’s chief editor, and featuring music composed by Minos Matsas, the documentary highlights the timeless relationship between Hotel Grande Bretagne and the evolution of the city of Athens.

“We are profoundly honoured that this occasion finds us at the helm of both the Hotel Grande Bretagne and Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A.,” she added.

Written by Natasa Segkou, the screenplay presents interviews with personalities, such as Dr. Angelos F. Vlachos, author of the book “The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens”; Apostolos Doxiadis, former CEO & former VP of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A. and great-grandson of entrepreneur Efstathios Lampsas; Greek journalist and writer Nikos Vatopoulos; Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Former Queen of the Hellenes Princess of Denmark; Kostas Kostis, professor at the Department of Economics of the University of Athens; Athanasios Laskaridis, Greek shipowner & Principal Shareholder of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A.; and Chloe Laskaridis, the President of the Board of Directors of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A..

Screening of the “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” documentary at the Pallas Theater in Athens. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Significant personalities from the world of politics, hospitality, shipping, media, and art attended the premiere, including Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Prince Nikolaos, former Greek Prime Ministers Costas Simitis and Panagiotis Pikrammenos; Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni; the Secretary General at the Greek National Tourism Organization, Dimitris Fragakis; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TEMES S.A. Achilleas V. Konstantakopoulos.

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Prince Nikolaos.

Thanasis Laskaridis,Shipowner & Principal Shareholder of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A.; Olga Kefalogianni, Tourism Minister of Greece; and Minos Matsas, Greek composer.

Vassilis Theocharakis, Greek artist and Tasos Homenidis, CEO of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels.

Satya Anand, President of Marriott International for Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Anneta Svoronou, Marriott International Complex Hotel Manager for Hotel Grande Bretagne and King George; Hom Parviz, GM of Grande Bretagne and King George; and Chief Operating Officer of Marriott International for Europe, Gonzalo Aguilar.

Maya Parviz with Maria Koutzabasi, Multi-Property Public Relations Manager.

Tim Ananiadis, former Managing Director/General Manager at Hotel Grande Bretagne & King George.

Following the premiere, the Hotel Grande Bretagne welcomed all guests to its halls, hosting a spectacular event featuring music, dance performances and songs from different decades, with the voice of singer Olga Veneti.

Reception at the Hotel Grande Bretagne following the screening of the documentary. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Reception at the Hotel Grande Bretagne following the screening of the documentary. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

Reception at the Hotel Grande Bretagne following the screening of the documentary. Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

The documentary “150 Years Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” will soon be aired by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation – ERT. Guests staying at the hotel will have the exclusive opportunity to watch the documentary on their in-room TVs during their stay.

Photo source: Hotel Grande Bretagne / Panoulis Photography

The creation of the film, as well as its screening, took place as part of the annual celebration for the hotel’s 150th anniversary, titled “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Always Grand”.

The Hotel Grande Bretagne is managed by Marriott International, Inc.