A new tourist destination is emerging in the center of Athens, on the site where the Hilton Hotel was located for more than half a century.
In the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as representatives of the political and business world, Achilleas Konstantakopoulos, President of TEMES, the main shareholder of Ionian Hotels, yesterday announced that a new multifaceted hotel complex is being built on Vas Avenue. Sophias, will be called The Ilisian.
It will include the new Conrad Athens hotel with 280 rooms and suites overlooking Athens, as well as an area for VIPs (400 sq.m.). In addition, in the same area, construction is underway of 18 private residences that will operate under the Hilton Conrad Residences brand, as well as another 37 residences under another Hilton brand, Waldorf Astoria Residences, which will be located on the upper floors of the building. In addition, there will be a modern private members' club, several restaurants, luxury shops, conference rooms, as well as sports and wellness centers created in collaboration with leading Greek and international brands.
Commissioning of the new tourist facility is now scheduled for the end of 2025. “The Ilisian becomes a bridge connecting the present with the past (…). This very important investment contributes to creating an Athens that is welcoming and visited 12 months a year,” said Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis.
The presentation of the new facility was made by TEMES SA President Achilleas Konstantakopoulos, noting: “With great respect for the unique history of this iconic building, we feel responsible for its revitalization so that it continues to be a beloved destination, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Our goal is to make it a place of meeting and inspiration, where international influence blends harmoniously with local character.”
Piraeus University Professor Nikolaos Georgopoulos then highlighted the economic and social impact of the new destination by presenting the results of a related study prepared by the Department of Tourism Research. According to him, this is a strategic investment, which, together with the initial investment for the purchase of the building, will exceed 340 million euros. According to the same study, the total damage to Ilisian up to and including the first five years of its operation will exceed the amount of 1.25 billion euros. The employment impact of the strategic investment is expected to be particularly significant as it will directly employ up to 800 workers during its operation.
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