Iconic Hilton Hotel in Athens Under Renovation, to be Renamed “Conrad”

The iconic Hilton Hotel in Athens, a masterpiece of mid-century modern architecture, will be renamed the “Conrad” and soon undergo extensive interior renovations.

The change came after Hilton struck a deal with the Ionian Hotel Enterprises to bring luxury brands Hilton Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Residences and Waldorf Astoria Residences to Greece.

They will take over the iconic hotel, located in the center of Athens, and transform it into the newest hot spot, which includes changing some of the rooms into private luxury residences.

Hilton Hotel a landmark in Athens

The Hilton Hotel, which has become a beloved landmark for Athenians, first opened its doors in 1963; it was the first major international hotel chain to operate in the country. Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra and Anthony Quinn even attended the hotel’s grand opening.

Greeks have a particular fondness for the hotel, and many view it as a symbol of Greece’s great era of blossoming in the 1960s.

The hotel, which arguably fueled the country’s status as a top international tourist destination, holds an important place in the history of modern Athens. Its iconic facade was designed by Greek artist Yiannis Moralis.

The renovations for the new “Conrad” hotel will be completed in 2024; it will then contain around 280 hotel rooms and about 50 private residences.

Ionian Hotel Enterprises is investing over 130 million euros into the hotel renovation, as they hope to create the space into one on the cutting edge, which will also house restaurants and both Greek and international retail shops.

The “Conrad” will house private residences, businesses

Achilles V. Konstantakopoulos, head of Ionian Hotel Enterprises, stated that “Our goal is to create an innovative city destination that will dynamically connect Athens and its inhabitants with the rest of the world…After six decades of Hilton presence in Greece and collaboration with the group founded by Conrad Hilton, we are now excited to call it by its first name: Conrad.”

For Athenians, who are used to referring to the hotel as the”Hilton,” the name change will likely take a long time to get used to.

Developers and investors hope that the move to renovate and revitalize the iconic hotel into a vibrant, multi-use space will help bring more luxury international travelers to visit the country.

“Athens is a city that perfectly meets the needs of the modern traveler who seeks luxury. With a long history, connected with culture and entertainment, it is the right place to host the brand Conrad Hotels & Resorts in Greece,” stated Dino Michael, Vice President and Head of the Global Category of Hilton Luxury Brands.