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I’ve wanted to go to Greece for quite some time, specifically Athens, and then hopefully on down to the islands. While there are point hotels to choose from, many outstanding looking SPG properties and an Intercontinental I’ve seriously considered, there haven’t been Hyatt options in Athens. That will soon change. As mentioned by Running With Miles – Hyatt announced that they are opening in Q3 of this year. Wow, that’s quick, seeing as though they are renovating it as we speak. I love Grand Hyatts as they almost always come with a very solid club offering ( great for upgrade for just 3k a night), grand lobbies, and comparatively large rooms.
Highlights from the presser:
- Franchise partners with Henderson Park and Hines
- Managed by Kokari Limited
- 310 rooms located on Syngrou Ave
- Rooftop bar and restaurant with Acropolis views
- Pool, spa, fitness
In terms of WOH category
Nothing released. Running With Miles has a solid guestimate = cat 4. I’d put my money on that as well, which would be great for Hyatt credit card members looking for a cool annual night certificate redemption.
Here’s the full release if you’re interested
CHICAGO (May 22, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with both Henderson Park and Hines for the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Greece, Grand Hyatt Athens. The opening is expected in Q3 2018. The hotel will be managed by Kokari Limited and will deliver bold and vibrant luxury for guests in this iconic destination.
“We are thrilled to announce plans for the first Hyatt property in Athens with Henderson Park, Hines and Kokari,” said Takuya Aoyama, vice president, development for Eastern Europe, Russia & CIS at Hyatt. “We have long sought to bring the Grand Hyatt brand’s celebratory luxury to the Greek capital. This deal represents a significant milestone in Southeast Europe, an important growth market for Hyatt with recent Hyatt development announcements in Turkey and Bulgaria.”
The 310-room hotel will be centrally located on Syngrou Avenue in Athens’ Koukaki district, close to golf courses, restaurants and within walking distance of Filopappos Hill. Grand Hyatt Athens will be uniquely designed to reflect its Greek culture with dramatic architecture and innovative design. First-class accommodations will welcome guests along with a spectacular rooftop bar and restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a stunning view of the Acropolis. Additional amenities will include best-in-class food and beverage venues, more than 11,600 square feet of meeting space as well as a spa and fitness center.
“Our investment into Grand Hyatt Athens was driven by its potential as a luxury asset with a historic heritage,” said Nick Weber, founding partner of Henderson Park. “Grand Hyatt is one of the world’s leading premium brands and working with Hyatt on this hotel is an endorsement of our ambitious strategy and a strong addition to Henderson Park’s portfolio of iconic European hotels. We hope this marks the first stage of building a rewarding, long-term relationship with Hyatt.”
The Greek capital is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations with over 4.5 million visitors a year. With its premium offerings and central location, Grand Hyatt Athens will appeal to business and leisure travelers who seek exceptional settings.
“We are proud to work with Hines, Henderson Park and the Grand Hyatt brand for the operation of the new Grand Hyatt Athens,” said Tina and Yannis Daskalantonakis, co-founders of Y&T Daskalantonakis Knossian Group, which owns Kokari Limited. “With a global mindset behind our hospitality, we are confident that the hotel will meet our guests’ needs.”
Paul Gomopoulos, managing director, Hines Greece, added, “We are delighted to work with Hyatt on this Grand Hyatt hotel, a global brand with the caliber of offerings we need for this market. We look forward to delivering an experience in Athens worthy of celebration.”
The hotel is currently undergoing a major renovation and will mark the second Hyatt hotel in Greece – joining its sister property Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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