Anatolia Hospitality, a renowned hotel company based in Thessaloniki, is set to make its entry into the Athenian tourism market. The company plans to convert a well-known building on Syngrou Avenue into a luxurious 5-star hotel, bringing its successful ONOMA brand to the Greek capital.
Strategic Expansion to Athens
The company has secured a 15+15 year lease for a former office building, spanning 2,200 square meters, located at Syngrou Avenue 6. This prime location is directly opposite the Columns of Olympian Zeus and within walking distance of Syntagma Square, offering a strategic position for attracting both business and leisure travelers.
The investment for this ambitious project is expected to exceed 3 million euros. The new ONOMA Hotel in Athens will feature 40 rooms, aiming to replicate the personalized and technology-driven guest experience that has made the ONOMA Hotel Thessaloniki a success. The development is currently in the licensing phase, with construction anticipated to commence in early 2026 and conclude by early 2027.
The ONOMA Hotel Concept
The ONOMA Hotel brand, known for its innovative approach to hospitality, focuses on personalized guest experiences facilitated by smart technology. Guests can expect services such as remote check-in/check-out and electronic notifications for room service, all managed through smart devices. Rooms can be customized to create thematic experience areas, catering to individual preferences in photography, wine, or gaming.
The Thessaloniki property also boasts a ‘Backyard Social Place’ designed to be a social media hotspot, and a ‘Cloud Bar’ on the eighth floor offering 360-degree views of the city. These features are likely to be incorporated into the Athens hotel, enhancing its appeal.
Anatolia Hospitality’s Growing Portfolio
Anatolia Hospitality, with a 90-year legacy in tourism, already operates three hotels: the ONOMA Hotel Thessaloniki, Anatolia Hotel Thessaloniki, and Anatolia Hotel Komotini. The group also manages villas and luxury apartments in Mykonos (Senses Villas & Suites, Villa Petrolefko) and a luxury villa in Lefkada (Villa Veneziano), alongside the incoming tourism office ASIT (Anatolia Travel) [bizness.gr]. The expansion into Athens marks a significant step in the company’s growth strategy, further solidifying its position in the Greek hospitality sector.
Athens’ Thriving Hotel Market
Athens has been experiencing a period of rapid growth in its tourism sector, leading to substantial investments in the hotel industry. The conversion of old, often abandoned buildings into luxury hotels highlights the city’s dynamism as a tourist destination. Several other hotel projects are underway in central Athens, including a five-star boutique hotel at Akadimias 31 by Empiria Group, a boutique hotel at Voukourestiou 23 by Valenci Venture 5, and a new five-star hotel next to the Academias Hotel by ASSOCIATES SPV 1 SA. Additionally, two new hotels are planned for Aiolou Street, and a four-star hotel near the historic Minion department store on Veranzerou Street [parapolitika.gr].
The e-EFKA has also issued tenders for long-term leases of historic buildings in Syntagma and Klafthmonos Square, with plans for their conversion into hotels or tourist accommodations. These developments underscore the robust investment interest in Athens’ hospitality sector [parapolitika.gr].
While this growth brings economic benefits and job creation, it also raises questions about Athens’ carrying capacity as a tourist destination. Sustainable development will require accompanying investments in public infrastructure to support the increasing demand [parapolitika.gr].
Another 5-star hotel by IONIAN SUN A.E., a subsidiary of Atlantica Hotels, is also advancing in the wider Syntagma area, with 33 rooms and 66 beds. This project, with an investment of approximately 2.95 million euros, has received approval for funding through the Development Law and its building permit [bizness.gr]. Separately, a new 4-star hotel on Syngrou Avenue has also received the ‘green light’ [ypodomes.com].
The entry of Anatolia Hospitality into Athens’ competitive hotel market is poised to further enhance the city’s appeal as a premier European destination.
Source: bizness.gr, parapolitika.gr, bizness.gr, ypodomes.com
