Hotels & Accommodations

Novotel Athenes, a member of the Accor group, completed its full refurbishment in May 2007. The refurbishment process, which began in November 2006, cost some 5.3 million euros, and included 196 rooms, the reception and lobby, two restaurants and roof garden.

A new hotel chain, Grace Hotels, marked its presence in the Greek market with the launch of Mykonos Grace Hotel recently. Mykonos Grace, a boutique hotel, won worldwide recognition in 2007 and was awarded the first prize at the European Hotel Design Awards held in London for Hotel Design of the Year.

Aristi Mountain Resort, a traditional structure made of stone in the middle of Aristi Village, Epirus, with breathtaking views to the gorge of Voidomatis River and the imposing mountain range of Astraka, has just completed its first year of successful operation. The resort sports 14 rooms-suites, triple rooms and double rooms-and up-market facilities. located in the heart of Aristi Village, it is connected with the central village square through a scenic trail. It also provides car accessibility up to the entrance of the main lobby and plenty of parking next to the hotel.

The Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts selected Greece as its first location in Europe. The company anticipates the creation of two luxury resorts, on the island of Santorini and Pylos of Messinia, under its management by 2009.

The tourism development ministry recently announced the completion of the process of selection of a committee that will be responsible for the classification of hotels and rooms to rent. It also announced developments on basic issues of the tourism industry such as the promotion of thematic tourism.

With refurbishment at Amalia hotel now completed and refurbishment of Amalia hotels around Greece well under way, the group looks to the future. It considers its role and strategy in the tourism sector through the eyes of an organization that has been in the industry since the dawn of tourism in Greece, hailed by many in the sector as a “pioneer” long before its first hotel opened in Amalia Avenue in 1958.

The chain of Starwoord hotels, of which the Grande Bretagne and Astir Palace Vouliagmenis are members, recently announced the redesign of its website spg.com. The website is dedicated to the members of the program Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG).

Tourism Development Minister Fanni-Palli Petralia recently signed an agreement for the modification of presidential decree 43 of 2002 that will redefine the prerequisites for the classification of hotels into the star system.

Amirandes is the new six-star luxurious hotel resort of the Grecotel group that recently opened its gates in eastern Crete. The resort is characterized by its unique Minoan identity and covers an area of one hundred acres along the coast.

The Philoxenia tourism awards, that Helexpo began last year, are due to take place once again at the Philoxenia tourism exhibition in November. The most popular Greek destinations will be awarded as will the best Greek hotels, a new category that will be determined and voted for by ‘mystery guests’ that will visit the hotels under the guise of tourists and make notes on the overall services the hotels offer to Greeks and foreigners.