Following the clearing of obstacles in 2020 by previous developer Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, it was recently reported that new developer Hard Rock International in cooperation with GEK TERNA Group held  a groundbreaking ceremony for the luxurious casino-resort located in the heart of the Athens Rivera. The ceremony involved a memorable shovel celebration that took place at the well-known Hellinikon Airport. In addition, a follow-up ceremony was held at the Hellinikon Experience Center and involved GEK TERNA Group executives, Hard Rock International executives, political dignitaries, leaders of the local community and Greek government officials.

The first IR of its kind in continental Europe:

The aforementioned luxurious casino-resort, the so-called Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens, will represent the 1st integrated resort (IR) of its type in the region of the continental Europe and its main role will be to boost the economy of tourism and entertainment in Athens. In addition, it is projected to officially open its doors to the public during 2027. 

As for its layout, once construction is complete, the casino-resort will represent one-of-a-kind destination for its guests, meaning it will bring together a luxury hotel, top-notch convention and meeting space, world-class gaming floor, globally famous beverage and food, a premium entertainment venue, a luxury retail promenade and and a top-tier Rock Spa® and Pool Complex.

As for the gaming floor specifically, it will feature a colorful casino equipped with 1,500 gaming machines and 180 tables in addition to a tower that will include 15 dining options and 1,100 guest rooms. Furthermore, the casino-resort will also involve Hard Rock Live theater that can accommodate 3,000 guests with a standing room that may accommodate 4,000 guests and Rock® Spa and Body Rock Fitness.

Commenting on the new casino-resort and groundbreaking ceremony in general, Chairman of Hard Rock International, Jim Allen, commented: “We are grateful to all the political leaders, our partners at Gek Terna and the people of Athens for supporting us and this project.”

Economic aid:

Relatedly, the whole construction project is worth €1.5 billion and represents the premium facility that is expected to offer 3,000 permanent and 3,000 construction jobs, which will not only have the instant positive impact on the economy of Athens, but also on the economy of the entire Greece.

Motivated by the one-of-a-kind Mediterranean landscape and the rich culture and legacy of Athens, this project helps Hard Rock to further increase its presence in Europe. Also, the devotion of the developers to this particular project means that they share a vision with Lamda Development and Greek government to turn Hellinikon Airport into a globally famous redevelopment that will significantly boost Athene’s and Greece’s tourism industry.

In this regard, Chairman and CEO of GEK TERNA Group, Mr. George Peristeris, commented, according to the official press release: “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.  A project with high domestic added value, as all our investments have always intended. 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.”