Author: Aris Dimitrakopoulos
Investing in Greece’s tourism sector was a hot topic at the “Reimagine Tourism in Greece” conference, with hospitality leaders discussing the opportunities and challenges. Adrian Messerli of Four Seasons Hotels highlighted Greece’s appeal for investment, pointing to factors like environment, culture, and cuisine. While noting challenges in infrastructure and staffing, he expressed optimism about the government’s efforts. Messerli also emphasized the high quality of Greek staff, stating that the workforce’s seasonal nature presents both challenges and opportunities. Four Seasons announced plans to open a hotel in Mykonos in 2025. Andreas Andreadis of Sani/Ikos Group praised Greece’s potential for tourism investment…
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the issue of overtourism in Greece during the “Reimagine Tourism in Greece” conference. He stated that Greece does not have an overtourism problem but faces challenges with concentrated tourist activity in specific destinations during peak months. Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of improving infrastructure to accommodate more visitors and focus on increasing tourist spending rather than just numbers. He also mentioned government intervention when necessary, such as implementing limits on cruise ship arrivals to protect popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini. Mitsotakis expressed confidence that Greece will not face anti-tourism protests like those in Spain due…
When news of a potential US-Russia prisoner swap broke, the name Alexander Vinnik, also known as “Mr Bitcoin,” made headlines. Arrested in 2017 for laundering $4 billion through his crypto exchange, BTC-e, Vinnik pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2024 after spending time in French and US prisons. Despite efforts to include him in the swap, he was not part of the exchange due to not being sentenced, according to his lawyer Arkady Bukh. Bukh, a New York-based lawyer, has represented many Russian cybercriminals and sheds light on the secretive world of prisoner swaps involving spy agencies. The recent swap…