From ghost buildings to 5-star resorts: The historic Greek hotels that enchant guests

Emblematic hotels like the "Grande Bretagne" in the heart of Athens, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and other unique buildings within and beyond the capital, already serve or aspire to become significant landmarks through their revitalization, particularly within the tourism industry.

From the most classic and timeless to the newest additions, historic hotels throughout Greece offer enduring value and create unique destinations. Through the revitalization of old buildings with distinctive architecture, they align with the country's tourism goals of diversification and providing more authentic experiences

Athens itself is witnessing the revitalization of many old buildings. Similar efforts are underway across the region, with the Public Real Estate Company (ETAD) currently running multiple tenders throughout Greece for the utilization of at least eight former hotels, such as Xenia.

The case of "Xenia"

The "Xenia" of Platamon, Kozani, Kastania, Kalentziou of Achaia, Karterou, Xanthi, Tsagarada, and Komotini, together with the tourist kiosks of Lourou of Ioannina and Zacharos of Ilia have already entered long-term concession tenders with closing dates gradually from the second ten days of January until the first ten days of March.

The market is wondering now how many of these decommissioned properties, some of which have turned into ghost buildings and even in the most beautiful parts of the areas where they are located, will end up with investors, given the previous (bad) ) experience.

What is certain is that from there are now higher expectations: on the one hand, due to the positive situation for Greek tourism, where the investment interest remains high and now the need to open up to new tourist products beyond the traditional "sun and sea" for the extension of the season, on the one hand due to the improvement of the conditions and the reduction of the requested rents (although not in all cases) compared to previous announcements as is the case in "Xenia" of Kozani.

From hospitals and sanatoriums to 5* resorts

Exactly in this direction, a tangible, successful example is that of the former "Manna" sanatorium. The building of unique architecture in a virgin fir forest at an altitude of 1,200 metres was put out in the middle of the last decade in a competition by the Fund for the Exploitation of Private Property of the State (TAIPED), and since last summer, it has been transformed after its restoration into a mountain resort five stars, under the management of the well-known company Modus & Amplio.

The historic Castello Bibeli in Corfu is being converted into a boutique unit with 15 luxury residences. The tower was built in 1905 by the Italian Admiral Bibelli. When, in 1940, the Bibeli family fled to Italy, and their property was considered hostile, it was transferred to the Greek State.

Throughout the Second World War, it was used as a military hospital.

Accordingly, this time in Corfu, another emblematic property, has also taken the path of exploitation through TAIPED. The reason for the well-known and historic Castello Bibeli, which has taken over the Fais Group and Bluehouse investment scheme following the relevant 2020 competition.

At the moment, the project, with a total value of around 40 million euros for the revival and transformation of the tower into a boutique unit with 15 luxury residences within the wider area located 13 kilometres north of the city of Corfu and 700 meters from the beach of Dassia, is in the licensing phase.

The approvals are extremely demanding due to the conservation nature of the tower, with the first building permits expected very soon, within the first part of the year, so that the project can be launched within a three-year horizon. The tower's history goes back to the beginning of the last century, in 1905, when the Italian Admiral Bibeli constructed the buildings.

When the Bibeli family fled to Italy in 1940, their property was considered hostile; it was transferred to the Greek State. The Castello was used as a military hospital throughout the Second World War.

The history of "Manna", which has been operating for the last few months in Arcadia, is also rich. This preserved building in Mainalo was created by Anna Mela, sister of Pavlos Melas, in 1927, who, thanks to her enormous charity work, got the nickname "Soldier's Manna".

She dedicated her life and fortune to creating a sanatorium for the soldiers of the Balkan Wars and the Asia Minor Campaign.

In 2015, the Otus Hotel-Tourist company, led by Mr. Stratis Bataia, bid in the TAIPED competition for the old sanatorium, which, after an investment of 9 million euros, has been operating for five months. Its twelve-month operation has stimulated tourist traffic in the area with a different tourist product around wellness and gastronomy.

Essentially, fulfilling the dream of its new owner and initiator, who spent his summers in the area as a child, for the rebirth of the new "Manna", the architects of K-Studio and the Monogon office undertook the restoration of this unique building and its transformation into a five-star wellness and gastronomy resort, where the award-winning Greek chef Athenagoras Kostakos creates seasonal menus inspired by Greece.

The effect is enhanced at night due to the lighting design by Eleftheria Deco, the renowned specialist who has put her signature on the multi-award-winning lighting for the Acropolis. In these few months of its operation, the average occupancy is increasing. It is over 45%, as Mrs Fotini Constantinou, Sales and Marketing Director of Modus & Amplio, points out in "business stories".

The company also manages other historic hotels dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries in various destinations across Greece and exhibiting high performance, addressed to a high-demanding public: among them is "Azade Chania", the historic building of 1680, which was the home of the Ottoman governor of Chania and later of the very famous American poet and writer Charles Henry Ford.

The property in the Old Town of Chania, next to the historic Venetian Walls and the Old Port, has been converted and has been operating since 2022 as a seasonal luxury boutique hotel with nine suites.

In fact, for the year that just ended, it had 84% occupancy, a rate indicative of the acceptance of the travelling public.

In another leading destination, from the heavyweights of Greek tourism, Rhodes, the classic five-star "Grande Albergo Delle Rose" (otherwise Hotel of the Roses in Italian) had an average occupancy of 77% last year.

The historic building of 1925-1297 was created by the Italian governor Mario Lago and essentially placed Rhodes on the world tourist map in the early 1930s, having hosted world-class personalities such as Winston Churchill, Eleftherios Venizelos, Aristotle Onassis, Konstantinos Karamanlis, etc.

In fact, in 1949, the peace and cease-fire agreement of the Arab-Israeli war was signed, with the subsequent creation of the state of Israel.

The also classic in Spetses "The Poseidonion Grand Hotel", a registered trademark of the island since 1914, when it opened its doors thanks to the vision of benefactor Sotirios Anargiros, shows to this day consistently high occupancy, which in the 2023 season was 82%.

The profile of visitors

"The profile of those who choose this type of hotel units are experienced and demanding guests who have travelled a lot and are now looking to experience a different kind of trip with a strong interest in the authentic character of the place they are visiting," said Mrs Constantinou.

"Beyond the natural beauty, this particular traveller is looking for a place to stay with a distinct identity and strong character. They are  interested in learning the history of the place and the historical origins of the building where they live, as well as its course through the decades.

"They are interested in gaining information and feeling the place where he resides through the History, the unique architectural design, the culture and the social aspects of the destination they are visiting. Usually, they are a visitor of high standards, with very high possibilities of spending time in the hotel and overall in the place of stay, and a lover of the building's nature, design, and architecture.

"They also also tend to have strong environmental sensitivities, being particularly careful about the footprint they leave behind. For this reason, they choose a place to stay in hotels with a history, in historically preserved buildings that have been restored and have a continuity over time, carrying their great heritage through a second and third chance at life.

"Through our years of experience as Modus & Amplio in managing historically restored and preserved buildings, we have seen several times guests who have completely changed their schedule just to be able to stay longer in a historic hotel, as well as guests who they come to an area just because of the hotel, ultimately making these units a destination in themselves.”

150 years of history

The iconic "Grande Bretagne" is also an autonomous destination and symbol in the centre of Athens, which turns 150 years old this year, since 1874, having connected "its history with the history of Greece itself," according to the managing director of the owner LAMPSA Tasso Chomenidis.

Important moments of Greek history unfolded in the area of ​​"Grande Bretagne", which, according to Mr Homenidis, is preparing for this year a series of important events that will highlight its identity over the years from the 19th and 20th centuries.

During the Second World War, the hotel was requisitioned, and from there, on October 28, 1940, the announcement of the General Staff was issued for the entry of Greece into the war.

Churchill, Onassis, members of the Kennedy family, Maria Callas, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacques Chirac and many more personalities have stayed in it, which for 150 years has had a legendary role in the social, economic and political life of the city since the building has been used as the seat of governments (after the Liberation, the seat of the first free Greek government was established there, under George Papandreou), while politicians who have signed treaties, industrialists who have concluded agreements, as well as secular people have passed through its salons Athenians.

The emblematic "Grande Bretagne" turns 150 years old this year

The second milestone for the Lampsa group in the new year is the latest boutique unit at 7-9 Zalokosta Street, in the preserved property of e-EFKA, which it has leased with a long-term concession following the relevant tender.

The building built in 1938 by the architect Adrianos Lazarimos (also the creator of the "Pallas" cinema) has a rich history: its basement was configured before the war as a shelter with special gas protection; during the Occupation it housed the Gestapo detention centres, while, according to oral testimonies, it communicated with an old gallery which the EAM used during the attempt to blow up "Grande Bretagne" in 1944.

From this summer, this historical monument will function in addition to the "Athens Capital MGallery", the other hotel five stars of the group on Kriezotou Street in Syntagma.

Stefania Souki is a columnist for New Money.