Athens, September 2020 - In a unique location on Syntagma Square, the most historic square in the country, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection, the first member of the MGallery Hotel Collection in the Accor Group in Greece, opened its doors on September 1st of 2020. As a member of LAMPSA HELLENIC HOTELS S.A. and Accor’s extensive network, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection introduces a new philosophy of hospitality to Greece.
Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection was an important investment of 25 million euros by LAMPSA HELLENIC HOTELS S.A. of the Laskaridis Group, which was realised in the span of 2 years. At this pivotal moment for Greek hospitality, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection reflects the Group’s optimism for the recovery of the development of tourism in Athens, and its trust in Greek tourism and all it has to offer.
A Syntagma Square landmark
The walls of Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection echo the capital’s modern history. At the end of the 50s, Kostas Kitsikis designed the original building to house King’s Palace in 1959, which hosted the Athenian and international elite for decades. Sixty years later, this Syntagma Square landmark was reborn as Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection.
With respect for the building’s history, the area and Athenian architecture, the design approach of MTArchitects - Massouridis Theodoraki Architects combines the past with the present by maintaining classic, elegant lines. For its interiors, MKV Designs drew inspiration from Greek culture and nature, as well as the timelessness of art. The lighting design in all spaces of the building, as well as its exterior, was curated by Lighting Design International, one of the best of its kind on a global scale, and Lighting Designer Chris Lewis.
About this, Mr Tassos Chomenidis, General Manager of LAMPSA SA, stated: “The LAMPSA SA hospitality family proudly presents its new member, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection. This is a special moment for our Company as the opening of Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection coincides with the passage of 100 years since its founding, whilst also inaugurating the new strategic partnership with the Accor Group”.
On behalf of the Accor Group, Mr Jean-Charles Delgado, COO of Accor Southern Europe, stated: “We are happy to welcome the new Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection to the Accor family. This latest addition to Greece’s hospitality map, in collaboration with LAMPSA HELLENIC HOTELS S.A. is a point of reference for us in a geographic market of special strategic importance to the Group.”
A unique stay
Timeless aesthetic, refined decor and high-level, personalised services guarantee a remarkable stay in the 177 rooms and suites of Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection, showcasing them as an ideal choice for those who are travelling for business or leisure.
Art, which plays a starring role in every element of the hotel, acquaints visitors with the cultural legacy of Athens, with each room and suite hosting a piece by painter Sophia Petropoulou, all part of a private collection inspired by Cycladic lines and “Greek Light”. Among the suites, the Presidential Suite is situated on the ninth floor, with an impressively spacious balcony and panoramic view of Athens and Mount Lycabettus. Here, three works of art by Rostitlav Romanov act as a nod to Greek nature through an expressionist touch.
Art and culture
Art is an intrinsic part of all hotels in the Laskaridis family and the MGallery Hotel Collection, and Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection is no exception. It is led by Mappemonde, an emblematic life’s work by notable Greek sculptor Georgios Lappas, through an impressive installation that begins with its central component on the hotel’s tenth floor, with about 3,000 parts that comprise it running through all its floors within the hotel’s atrium. The addition of this piece, just like the rest of the artworks in the hotel’s collection, was proposed to the Laskaridis family and MKV Design by art consultant Maria Migadi, whilst the inspiration of its placement came from Maria Vafiadis (MKV Design).
An important part of the hotel’s collection can also be found at Galerie Café, as well as all its common areas, with pieces by renowned and upcoming Greek artists like Yiannis Moralis, Yiannis Adamakos, Spyros Vassiliou, Dimosthenis Kokkinidis, Panagiotis Tetsis, Evgenios Spatharis, Stefanos Nanopoulos (NANO), Yannis Stavrou, Giannis Papanelopoulos, Tasos Chonias, Christos K. Baloukos and Christoforos Balampanidis. Inspired by the hotel’s Iconic Object, Vaggelis Choursoglou created small sculptures by combining the traditional pattern of the Akrokeramon with the aesthetic and technique of street art.
Flavour on the foreground
True to MGallery Hotel Collection’s dedication to excellent flavour and led by the experienced and acclaimed chef Dimitris Boutsalis, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection offers unique gastronomic experiences from morning till night.
On the level of the Lobby, Galerie Café is a true gallery of artworks with special character, whilst the tables on Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue and Kriezotou Street are the city’s new ‘place to see and to be seen’. At MFlavours Main Restaurant quality ingredients are the word of the day with a menu that balances Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.
Mappemonde Bar & Lounge can be found on the tenth floor of Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection, taking in city life from above as it offers a 360◦ vista with views of the Parliament, Mount Lycabettus and the Acropolis of Athens, reaching as far as the island of Aegina. The infinity pool and its incredible view enchant visitors and transform the space into the ultimate destination for sunny days.
Akrokeramon: A symbol of Athens
Every hotel of the MGallery Hotel Collection includes its own Iconic Object, a characteristic item closely linked to the city which it is hosted by, that becomes a part of the guest experience. The Iconic Object of Athens Capital Hotel-MGallery Collection is the Akrokeramon, a design feature of Neoclassical Athenian architecture which has been maintained over the years, conveying the true beauty of the capital and symbolising the timeless value of hospitality.
Before 2020 comes to an end, at a time of importance for the Greek tourism industry, Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection welcomes guests from Greece and abroad to a new era of hospitality.
About MGallery Ηotel Collection
MGallery is where captivating stories are lived and shared. With more than 100 illustrious boutique hotels around the world, each MGallery tells a unique story inspired by the destination. From bespoke design and sensorial mixology to wellbeing dedicated to women, MGallery hotels are places where guests can discover the very best the world has to offer. MGallery guests are inspired and enriched through their delightful visits to these stylish, thoughtful and decidedly singular hotels. Well-known properties in the MGallery collection include Hotel Molitor Paris, INK Hotel Amsterdam, Queens Hotel Cheltenham in England, Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Hotel Lindrum Melbourne in Australia, Muse Bangkok Langsuan in Thailand, and Hotel des Arts Saigon in Vietnam. MGallery is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 5000 hotels and residences across 110 countries.
About Accor
Accor is a world leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 5,000 hotels, resorts, and residences across 110 countries. With an unrivaled portfolio of brands from luxury to economy, Accor has been providing hospitality savoir-faire for more than 50 years.
Beyond accommodation, Accor enables new ways to live, work, and play, with food and beverage, nightlife, wellbeing, and coworking brands. To drive business performance, Accor’s portfolio of business accelerators amplify hospitality distribution, operations, and experience. Guests have access to one of the world’s most attractive hotel loyalty programs.Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to the planet and the community. Planet 21 – Acting Here endeavors to act for positive hospitality, while Accor Solidarity, the endowment fund, empowers disadvantaged groups through professional training and access to employment. Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States. For more information visit accor.com or become a fan and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About Lampsa Hellenic Hotels
Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A., part of the Laskaridis Group, is the most historic and emblematic hotel company in Greece, and has been listed on the Stock Exchange since 1947. With a significant presence in the tourism industry, Lampsa Hellenic Hotels S.A.’s portfolio includes a range of high-profile hotels: the Hotel Grande Bretagne and King George in Athens, the Sheraton Rhodes Resort in Rhodes and the Hyatt Regency Belgrade and Mercure Belgrade Excelsior in Belgrade.
For more information, please contact Euripides Tzikas (Ε. evripides.Tzikas@accor.com) and Kostas Panagakis (Ε. panagakis@travelworks.gr, T. +30 697 5871624)
