Tourism: New 5-star hotels arrive in Greece

Ultra-luxury chains ‘play’ Greece – About the new Four Seasons Hotel at Porto Heli

And while they stayed away from the Greek hotel market in previous years, not only have they come recently, but they are back again and planning additional investments. We are referring to the best luxury hotel chains that have appeared in our country recently and have not only “doubled” their presence, but also announced that they are ready to strengthen it further.

The chains follow the trend towards upgrading hotel services launched by a segment of the industry, with more than 10,000 rooms and 130 additional five-star hotels added in our country from 2019 to the end of 2022, while another 20,000 rooms and 130 more hotels have been added in The period 2015-2018, according to the data of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

A typical example is the four luxury chains, which, despite their absence on the Greek market, have not only come in recent years, but also announced new projects.

Four Seasons opened the way by taking over the management of Asteras Vouliagmenis. After this move, he is now promoting a district in Mykonos at the site of “Karabitis”, the real estate area of ​​the Ano Mera community, in the southeast of the island, on an area of ​​60.3 acres.

The investment was launched by AGC Equity Partners, the investment program that has acquired Asteras Vouliagmenis.

Porto Heli

However, it didn’t seem to stay there. Information from Porto Heli indicates that the 5-star XHenitsa Bay will be closed at the end of the season and will be rebuilt from the ground up to function after two years as a Four Seasons. And if the information circulated in the corridors of the hotel is confirmed, it will be the third Four Seasons hotel in our country.

Another special case is the Mandarin Oriental, where there have been discussions for many years about when the luxury chain would come to Greece. He finally came up with at least two projects so far.

Costa Navarino

The first is the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese. The hotel opened its doors recently and the occupancy has already increased. Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino features 99 suites and villas. Also apart from the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino will open in summer 2027 and the Mandarin Oriental Athens in Elliniko following the relevant agreement recently signed between Lamda Development Hotel Group and TEMES.

The debut of Six Senses in our country was also very impressive with two projects announced in a short period of time.

Initially, it announced its collaboration with Grivalia Hospitality in Petalio, and just a few days ago it announced its second Six Senses project, Six Senses Porto Heli, which will be operational from 2026.

Six Senses Porto Heli includes 60 rooms and suites, in addition to 10 luxury residences for sale, ranging from five to eight bedrooms. The complex will be developed on an area of ​​1,600 acres.

Unique 6-star…

One&Only is also present in our country with two units in Asteria tis Glyfada and in Tzia together with One&Only Aesthesis and One&Only Kea Island.

The above examples show that our country has entered the ranks of the ultra-luxury tourism chains, which means that the scope of development of the sector is very large. Along with their presence, international chains are developing the “Greek” product for the benefit of the economy, while attracting new investment from other business hotel groups.

However, it is certainly not only these four strings that “play” Greece. Dozens of new investments are underway or have begun, while others are in the completion stage.

It became known recently that the Ministry of the Environment gave green light to environmental conditions to build a five-star hotel with a capacity of 449 beds by converting the existing construction facilities of the former Lakonis Hotel in Gythio owned by Greek-American businessman Steve Voliotis.

Mykonos and others

In the Cyclades Islands, namely in Naxos, a 5-star hotel project with swimming pools and a basement has recently obtained permission from the Construction Service of the Naxos and Cyclades Micro-Municipality to be built in Naxos, in the Kampos / Polichni area of ​​Sagri, bringing under the microscope of tourism interest the largest Cycladic island in the area.

Meanwhile, a tourist complex including a 5-star hotel in Mykonos received the “green light” from the Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments. This is another investment for Mitsis Hotels Group, which has put in place a €250 million plan to strengthen its portfolio, which also includes, among others, the Afandou project in Rhodes.

On the other side of the Ionian Sea, an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) has been conducted for a new investment in Meganisi, Lefkada, in connection with the construction of a classic 5-star holiday hotel with the privileged title “Amphitrite” and the investment authority Amphitrite. Put up for public consultation until 28/9 IKE hotel and tourism companies. The new hotel is classified as a boutique hotel.

In addition, in the final consultation or publication stage, there are several Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) related to hotel investments, two investments stand out in luxury accommodation in Kavros and on the blue coast of Crete, a 180-bed 4-star hotel in Sivota, Thesprotia In Bella Fracas area and also a 4-star investment in Sivota Igoumenitsa as well as a hotel unit in Corfu in Katilanoi.

And…Athena

RND Investments’ investment in the Varco Peninsula of the Palairos municipality, which envisages the construction of a luxury resort with 116 villas and 45 residences, is scheduled to begin in 2026.

Also noteworthy are the five-star investments negotiated throughout Greece by the American venture capital HIG Capital, with activity already extending from Rhodes, Corfu and Kos to Crete, as well as the luxury investments completed and operating this season in Halkidiki and Crete. From the international Zeus hotel chain.

Even in Athens, at last the “best is yet to come” as they run a series of competitions for the rental and use of properties as hotels, most notably the historic building of the Budosaki Foundation on Amalia Street, just off the National Road. The park, where non-binding offers have been made to several stakeholders.

source: after that