Operator News
Greece – Mohegan Gaming unveils plans for Inspire Athens
By Phil - 10 October 2019
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, and its Greek partner GEK TERNA, have lifted the curtain on their plans for Inspire Athens, its concept for the first Integrated Resort and Casino in Greece.
The resort consists of a luxury hotel, entertainment venues, convention center, shopping, dining, casino, and a comprehensive mix of premium amenities. The development will help launch a new era of tourism growth and economic prosperity for all of Greece and the entire region.
The iconic design of the building was created by Steelman Partners, an international architectural firm specializing in IRC design and development. The concept form draws inspiration from the architectural history of Greece, particularly from Athenian sculptures and buildings including the Acropolis and the Caryatids.
“We understood that Inspire Athens was meant to symbolise more than an integrated resort,” said Mario Kontomerkos, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s Chairman and CEO. “It is our hope that Inspire Athens would be the catalyst that sparks the entire development of the Hellinikon area into the coveted Athenian Riviera, forever redefining the modern identity of Greece.”
Paul Steelman added: “Our overarching design was meant to be iconic in nature, yet characterise Athens’s historic architecture and rich culture while adopting a new stylistic narrative that inspires the region’s future.”
With state-of-the-art meeting facilities that will reposition Athens as the preferred MICE destination, a multi-purpose indoor event space, and sprawling resort pools, Inspire Athens intends to marry world-class luxury hospitality and ceaseless entertainment in a way that’s never before been seen in the south of Europe. Much of the resort was designed to capitalise on the Greek affinity for the outdoors where virtually all the resort’s restaurants, bars, lounges, and nightclubs offer both indoor and outdoor experiences. The collection of food, beverage, and retail outlets includes internationally-recognised brands as well as domestic favourites that accentuate traditional Greek dining, drinking, and shopping. INSPIRE Athens intends to be southern Europe’s centre for A-list music concerts, theatrical performances, major sporting events, and other arts and cultural activities on a weekly basis.
Officiating the announcement of the IRC was Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment’s Chairman and CEO, Mario Kontomerkos: “We hope we’ll have the opportunity to turn our vision into a reality and further elevate Greece as a must-visit travel destination with this landmark hospitality destination.” He also mentioned his direct ties to the region as a Greek-American and his ambition for contributing both locally and nationally to the country by aligning with key travel, tourism, and workforce development goals.
The Inspire Athens development is estimated to create more than 7,000 jobs in the region during and after construction, including direct, indirect, and induced. The completion of the Integrated Resort and Casino is expected to increase international tourism in the Attica region by at least 10 per cent and contribute millions of euros annually to both the government and the people of Greece in the form of taxes, infrastructure improvement, and public services.
