Hard Rock International, along with partner GEK TERNA Group, held Friday the groundbreaking ceremony for its Greece luxury resort and casino, located in the heart of the Athens Riviera. The event, held at the historical Hellinikon Airport, featured a commemorative shovel celebration followed by a ceremony at the Hellinikon Experience Center, attended by Hard Rock International and GEK TERNA Group executives, Greek government officials, political dignitaries, and local community leaders.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens, slated to open its doors in 2027, is poised to become the first integrated resort of its kind in continental Europe, according to Hard Rock International. The company affirms that this ambitious project, with an estimated cost of €1.5 billion ($1.65 billion), aims to redefine entertainment and tourism in the city of Athens.
The company reports that the resort will encompass a blend of luxury offerings, including an upscale hotel, a world-class gaming floor with 180 tables and 1,500 gaming machines, a premier meeting and convention space, a state-of-the-art entertainment venue, internationally renowned food and beverage options, a Rock Spa and Pool Complex, and a high-end retail promenade. The tower will boast 1,100 guest rooms, and visitors will have the choice of 15 dining options.
Inspired by Athens’s culture, as well as the Mediterranean landscape, the destination expands upon Hard Rock’s growing presence in Europe. The project aims to transform the historical Hellinikon Airport “into a world-class redevelopment that will further enhance the city and Greece’s tourism industry.”
Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International, said: “Today is a very special day as we celebrate this momentous occasion to bring our unique brand of world-class entertainment to Athens. We are grateful to all the political leaders, our partners at Gek Terna and the people of Athens for supporting us and this project.”
The construction project is anticipated to generate a substantial economic impact, creating 3,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs, thus stimulating both the local economy of Athens and contributing positively to Greece’s broader economic landscape.
Mr. George Peristeris, Chairman and CEO of GEK TERNA Group, stated: “We are delighted that in cooperation with a world leader in this sector, Hard Rock International, we are realizing an investment much higher than its already significant nominal value, offering Greece a development project that will be a reference point for our country’s tourism product internationally, will offer employment to thousands of people and yield significant revenues to the national budget.”
“The Integrated Resort Complex in Hellinikon is no longer a promise, a vision, or a plan. It is a project that is already being built, proving in practice that we implement our commitments.”