Hilton Athens
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Real estate |
| Predecessor | Athens Hilton |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Fate | Redeveloped and rebranded |
| Headquarters | Athens , Greece |
| Owner | TEMES S.A., The Olayan Group |
| Website | theilisian |
The Ilisian represents the transformation of the historic Athens Hilton hotel, with plans to reopen in 2025. Situated on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue within Athens' Hilton District, close to the Kolonaki and Pangrati areas, the property ceased operations for refurbishment in January 2022. Upon its relaunch, it will operate as the Conrad Athens The Ilisian hotel, complemented by high-end residences branded under Conrad and Waldorf Astoria on the upper stories.
Athens Hilton
Built between 1958 and 1963, the Athens Hilton was the city’s inaugural international hotel chain property. The architectural design was crafted by Emmanuel Vourekas, Prokopis Vasileiadis, Anthony Georgiades, and Spyro Staikos. Its exterior is adorned with relief artwork by Yiannis Moralis, drawing inspiration from Greek cultural motifs.
The hotel’s inauguration on April 20, 1963, was attended by Conrad Hilton himself. Throughout its history, it welcomed distinguished visitors including Aristotle Onassis, Frank Sinatra, Ingmar Bergman, and Anthony Quinn. During the 2004 Summer Olympics, it served as the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters and later hosted the organizing committee for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Notably, it was home to Athens’ first modern art gallery—the Hilton Gallery (1968–1972)—which displayed a mix of historical exhibitions and contemporary works from both Greek and international artists.
In preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games, a renovation led by Greek architects Alexandros Tombazis and Charis Bougadelis added a seven-story extension on the northern side.
In 2016, ownership changed hands after Alpha Bank foreclosed on Ionian Hotels, the previous proprietor. The property was jointly acquired by Greek company TEMES S.A. and Turkey’s Dogus Group for €76.1 million. By 2019, TEMES had increased its ownership share to 51%, while The Olayan Group purchased Dogus’s remaining 49%.
The hotel closed its doors on January 31, 2022, to undergo a €130 million redevelopment converting it into an upscale hotel and residential complex under Hilton’s Conrad and Waldorf Astoria luxury brands.
The Ilisian
Scheduled for a 2025 reopening under the name The Ilisian, the building will feature the Conrad Athens The Ilisian hotel occupying the lower floors as part of Hilton’s prestigious Conrad Hotels collection. The accommodation capacity will be reduced from 506 rooms to 278. The upper levels will be transformed into luxury residences comprising 18 units branded as "Conrad Residences" and 37 units under "Waldorf Astoria Residences."
Facilities
Prior to closure, amenities included a restaurant, a rooftop bar, a spa facility, and an outdoor swimming pool measuring 25 meters in length by 15 meters in width.