Athens is the cradle of Western civilization; with civilization came the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition industry. For millennia this ancient city has hosted symposia, festivals and the ultimate event of all, the Olympic Games.
The tradition continues. In 2022 Athens earned $94 million from MICE events, a figure projected to rise steadily in coming years as new trends find an old home. The combination of ancient and modern remains one of the city’s great selling points.
Megaron Athens International Conference Centre exemplifies that duality. The modernist exterior draws inspiration from the columned temples of Ancient Greece. Its 18 spaces range from a meeting room with capacity of almost 2,000 to smaller conference rooms. MAICC is also a major venue for international musicians, and delegates taking part in other events in the building can attend concerts.
© Richard Newton
Mediterranean Exhibition Centre consists of a large, single-hall indoor exhibition space, with additional capacity available outside. MEC is located in a semi-rural area between central Athens and the airport, with few facilities nearby. By contrast, Hotel Grande Bretagne sits at the heart of things, located on Syntagma Square beside the Parliament.
It features 14 event rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 500 people. Several boardrooms are available, including Churchill’s Room, a refined space presided over by a portrait of the former British prime minister. The hotel’s GB Roof Garden Restaurant and Bar offers an ideal venue to wine and dine small groups after a day of meetings. The food, of course, is first-rate, but the biggest selling point is the view: an unobstructed panorama of the Acropolis.
Adjoining Grande Bretagne, sister hotel King George features four event rooms accommodating up to 450. The rooftop Tudor Hall Restaurant, overseen by Michelin-starred chef Asterios Koustoudis, also boasts the view. Day or night, you’ll find the Acropolis mesmerizing.
The Acropolis is not the only rocky landmark in Athens. Mount Lycabettus rises 908 feet above the city streets, and from the little church at the top (reachable on foot or by funicular railway) the spectacular views of the entire city will amaze you. Athens Zafolia Hotel sits nearby; you can look across at Mount Lycabettus from the rooftop pool. The hotel boasts facilities for meetings and events accommodating 10–250 people, with two main halls and three breakout rooms. As a bonus, the hotel lies within easy walking distance of Field of Mars, a formal public park and the remarkable National Archaeological Museum.
© Richard Newton
In addition to its wealth of ancient ruins, Athens offers another great attraction: its proximity to the Mediterranean. After the hustle and bustle of central Athens, the waterfront district of Glyfada offers a change of pace, though it’s deceptive. The area is known for its thriving nightlife. The 4-star Palace Hotel, overlooking Glyfada Beach, offers a modest venue with dedicated conference facilities suited to small, informal meetings. The rooftop bar proves perfect for sundowners as the sun sets into the Saronic Gulf, and proximity to the port of Piraeus makes group cruises to nearby islands convenient.
Back in central Athens, Triaena Business Center offers flexible space suitable for seminars and meetings as well as short-term office rental, together with secretarial services and IT support. If you’re looking for a functional workplace away from home, it’s ideal. By contrast, trendy Tin Pan Alley Modular Events Space perfectly hosts cocktail parties and other after-meeting gatherings, or glitzy presentations utilizing the venue’s 3-D projection technology.
UNIQUE VENUES
Since at least 450 B.C., every visitor to Athens has felt the lure of the Acropolis. This complex of temples atop a limestone outcrop dominates the city. Wherever you are in Athens, if you can see the Acropolis, you can’t get lost. Many of the city’s MICE venues offer views, but none rival the Acropolis Museum for proximity to the site or access to its historical treasures. You can privately book the museum’s restaurant for groups of up to 400, utilizing indoor and outdoor spaces, with outstanding views of the Acropolis and the legendary Parthenon. Auditorium Dimitrios Pantermalis includes seating for up to 204 people and state-of-the-art equipment. The ground-floor café, which overlooks archaeological excavations, makes an ideal break space between meetings. Delegates also have the option of private tours of the museum and its unrivaled collection of Greek antiquities. One may also tie in events at the museum with an early morning or late afternoon tour of the Acropolis itself.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 26, 2024The Bishop’s Lodge’s Bunkhouse: A Rustic, Historic Getaway
Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a small town that’s big on historic landmarks, buildings, parks and Western lore. Many of its most fascinating structures also happen to be hotels, including Bishop’s Lodge, which extends the city’s specific charms from the streets into the public areas and private suites and rooms. While most of the properties within historic buildings are upscale, Bishop’s Lodge is now a member of Auberge Resorts Collection thanks to a painstaking restoration, luxury appointments, commitment to personal service and wide range of exclusive activities.
Sponsored Content
Experience Luxury and Tranquility at Hamad International Airport’s Hotel
Known as one of the best airports in the world and voted Best Airport in the Middle East by Global Traveler readers, Hamad International Airport aims to set new standards for the airport industry that exceed the expectations of travelers through its facility.
Daily
Apr 26, 2024Book the Ultimate Summer Escape at Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen
Plan your 2024 summer vacation to Mexico. Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen offers travelers special experiences this summer, as well as an all-inclusive offer. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, your significant other or solo, this resort has something for everyone.
Daily
Apr 26, 2024Jamaica Gears Up for Summer with New Hotels and Experiences
Just in time for summer, Jamaica is easier to enjoy than ever thanks to new hotels and excursions. This Caribbean island has never been more alive than this year, and this summer is to be its best one yet.
Daily
Apr 25, 2024Former Massachusetts Glasses Factory Transforms into New Hotel
In the late 1800s, eyeglass manufacturer George Washington Wells became the founder and owner of the largest eyeglass company in the town by merging with several smaller lens manufacturers in Southbridge, Massachusetts. By the early 1900s, Wells was running the largest eyeglass manufacturing company in the world, owning several factories in Southbridge and occupying more than 80 acres on both sides of the Quinebaug River. It was called the American Optical Company, known locally in town as “AO.”
Hôtel Royal Unveils evian SPA, the First in Europe
Daily
Apr 25, 2024Fairfield by Marriott Phnom Penh Review
eFlyer Reviews
Apr 24, 2024Wolf by Vanderpump Opens at Harveys Lake Tahoe
Daily
Apr 24, 2024eFlyer News
Apr 24, 2024Lufthansa’s Allegris Takes Off May 1
Lufthansa’s new travel experience on long-haul routes starts its scheduled service May 1. Allegris is the airline’s new cabin, marking a new era for Lufthansa. Allegris sees updates and changes to economy, premium economy and business class, with a planned first-class cabin later this year.
Sponsored Content
Hotel Indigo: The World’s Neighborhood Hotel
Part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, Hotel Indigo is the world’s neighborhood hotel that celebrates how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighborhoods around the world. When staying at a Hotel Indigo hotel, it's not just about visiting a place — it's about being fully immersed in the neighborhood and wanting to take a little bit of it home. When traveling for business, Hotel Indigo offers a unique experience tailored to each location, making it the perfect choice to stay while traveling for work. With IHG Business Edge, travel managers have exclusive access to enticing perks, comprehensive travel metrics and carefully curated educational resources. It also includes a guaranteed discount on both business and personal travel for managers and employees, alongside an automatic upgrade to IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status after the initial IHG Business Edge stay.
eFlyer News
Apr 24, 2024IHG Hotels & Resorts Introduces 12 New Properties to Vignette Collection in 2024
IHG Hotels & Resorts welcomes 12 new properties to its brand-new luxury and lifestyle brand, Vignette Collection. Vignette Collection is a curation of distinct, hand-picked hotels, each offering one-of-a-kind stays from beachfront resorts to boutique townhouses.
ShareThis