Hospitality News

The bidding competition for long-term leases of two Xenia hotels, one in Tsagarada and the other on Thasos, has officially begun and offers must be submitted no later than October 18. Of those received, a short list will be selected and a closed competition will ensue. The leasing offers must include remodeling, repair and possible expansion of the existing buildings.

The Club Hotel Casino Loutraki will grant 500,000 euro over the next four years for restoration of the ancient temple of Zeus in Nemea, the Peloponissos. Last month, a sponsorship agreement was signed by representatives of the hotel and Berkeley University in the U.S., which will carry out the restoration work.

Domotel and its hotels, Les Lazaristes in Thessaloniki and Xenia Voulou, are sponsoring the Thessaloniki beach volleyball team, which stars Mariana Hounda and Mara Lazaridou.

Eria Resort, the first hotel designed for people with disabilities, is located near Chania in Crete. The hotel owner, Grigoris Archontakis, is a pharmacist with a successful business in orthopedic and medical equipment.

Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort has brought sand sculpting to Greece for the first time this summer. The resort located in Killini, on the west coast of Peloponnisos has invited artists from the World Sand Sculpture Academy (WSSA) in Holland to create sculptures and provide workshops for hotel guests.

Bankcards for members and an internet portal are among the priority plans presented by Andreas Andreadis, president of the newly elected board of the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX).

Astir Palace’s board of directors finally chose Starwood after an intense selection process that began with 20 proposals in September 2005. Starwood was among four companies short-listed, including Marriott, InterContinental and Accor.

AKS hotel group celebrated its new conference center in Porto Heli with an opening ceremony last month. Menelaos Siakolas, president and managing director of AKS Hotels, said that the company recognized the importance of conference tourism and believed that their center will help to develop tourism in Greece. He also pointed out that the company hopes the center will bring social and economic opportunities to the local community. “Our company’s goal is not only to operate in an organized and effective manner, but to share the values and benefits with the local community,” he said.

Last month, Domotel celebrated the opening of its newest acquisition, the five-star Xenia Volou on the coast of Volos. This is the only hotel in the city that can host large conferences thanks to its facilities and modern technology, services, rooms and suites that meet the highest VIP requirements. This luxury resort is a great escape for the summer and holidays, and a bridge to the Sporades islands and Pelion. The hotel has a spa for those seeking relaxation and peace.

Plans by the owners of the Mont Parnes casino-hotel to demolish the structure and rebuild another in its place may have to be re-evaluated following a forthcoming decision by the Archaeological Ephorate for Modern Monuments, which is to recommend that the Culture Ministry designate the building as a listed monument, according to press reports.