The “reveal” of the new destination in Athens took place some time ago. The reason for “L’Ilisien”, the rebranding of former Hilton resort.
The name of the renovated building complex was revealed by Achilleas Konstantakopoulos, President of TEMES, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It is recalled that it is einvestment of nearly 330 million euros implemented by TEMES.
The historic building and the name
The iconic building that housed the Hilton Athens for more than half a century is evolving from a hotel to a multi-use and experiential ecosystem where a new hotel and residences from the award-winning Hilton Conrad and Waldorf Astoria brands, estates of gastronomy, entertainment. , wellness, shopping as well as a modern members’ club, connecting the world to modern Athens.
The name “The Ilisien”, inspired by the historic Ilisos River as well as the Ilisia district, expresses the new destination’s eternally inseparable relationship with Athens, Ilisia and the people of the region. The aim of The Ilisian is to express the cosmopolitan character that is part of the building’s identity.
The event was graced by the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who said in his speech: “The Ilisian is transforming into a bridge that unites the present with the past, leading the capital as a whole towards a more hopeful future. This very important investment contributes to the vision of a welcoming Athens that can be visited 12 months a year. Its modern functioning will once again become, in its own way, part of the new image of a country which once again has new and broad horizons. With concern for the State, but also the visionary look of healthy entrepreneurship, which in turn trusts this country which is changing.”
The presentation of the new destination was made by the President of TEMES SA. Achilleas V. Konstantakopoulos, who said: “With great respect for the unique history of this iconic building, we feel a responsibility to revive it so that it continues to be a beloved destination, creating memories that will last a lifetime. a life. Our ambition is for it to be a meeting and inspiration point where international influences blend harmoniously with its local character. »
On behalf of Hilton, Dino Michael, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Luxury Brands Category, spoke about the arrival of Hilton’s luxury brands in Greece:
“Hilton has had a presence in Athens for over six decades and we are very proud of the development of such an important landmark, on the site of the iconic former Hilton Athens. The city is an ideal destination for the modern luxury traveler as it boasts a unique culture and rich history – and the building’s stunning location overlooking the Acropolis blends harmoniously with its contemporary luxury design. We are delighted to welcome his guests next year.
Then, Professor Nikolaos Georgopoulos from the University of Piraeus highlighted the economic and social impact of the new destination, presenting the results of the relevant study prepared by the Department of Tourism Studies.
This is a strategic investment which will exceed 340 million euros with the initial investment for the acquisition of the building. According to the study by the University of Piraeus, the total impact of the Ilisian up to and including its first 5 years of operation will exceed 1.25 billion euros. The effect on employment is also particularly significant, since more than 800 direct jobs were created during the construction period, while up to 800 workers will be directly employed during its operation (3 times more jobs than during previous operation of a hotel).
An ecosystem of experiences
The Ilisian aims to highlight the contemporary face of Athens internationally and further contribute to making the Greek capital one of the best choices in Europe for traveling or even permanent residence.
The new Conrad Athens hotel is present for the first time in Greece and will include 278 rooms and suites with a unique view of Athens, as well as a 400 m² mega suite. Also under development are 18 Conrad private residences as well as 37 Waldorf Astoria residences on the highest floors of the building.
There will also be a modern members’ club, several restaurants, selected boutiques, conference rooms, as well as sports and wellness areas, in collaboration with major Greek and international brands.
The design of The Ilisian was based on the principles of sustainable development by applying international best practices in energy efficiency, with the aim of obtaining LEED Gold certification.
The visual and architectural identity preserves and highlights all the emblematic elements of the building, such as the facades designed by Yiannis Moralis.
The architectural study and overall coordination of the project design were carried out by the AETER Architects office, in the static studies the companies: STATIKI – Consultants in static studies, F. Tsoulos & Associates, Hellenic Meletitiki and Retech collaborated and in E/M studies. , Schema mechanics. International and Greek offices collaborated on the interior design: AvroKO, Tristan Auer, Yabu Pushelberg, First Within, studio SBR, Mare Studio, ID-Lab and Vana Krimniotis. The lighting design was carried out by Eleftheria Deco & Associates and Delta-Theta, the landscape architecture by Simon Rackham Landscape Architects, the focus study by the company Xenex, the audiovisual study by the company T&A, acoustics by G. Schubert and DCarbon are studying for LEED Gold certification.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to visit highlights of a 60-year march and relive personal memories. They also had the opportunity to experience the new destination through a series of animated artworks created by internationally renowned director, choreographer and visual artist Dimitris Papaioannou, “bringing to life” the engraved symbols of Moralis and capturing the spirit of a destination that launched its legacy, a new chapter begins.
Early 2025 operation
The development located on the grounds of the former Athens Hilton is estimated to open in early 2025.
It all started in December 2021, when Ioniki Hotel Enterprises SA and Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of an agreement for the new hotels and private residences that will be created within the new destination developed by Ioniki Hotel Enterprises SA in the center of Athens .
According to those responsible for the project, the new complex constitutes an innovative initiative by TEMES in the urban fabric, as it is the first condo-hotel in the Greek capital. This is an investment initiative of a similar scale to the company’s large, complex investment in Costa Navarino, which is the country’s first Integrated Tourism Development Area (IPDA).
They say that just as the April 1963 operation of the Hilton Athens changed the entire neighborhood, something similar is expected to happen with the reopening of the new property.