Hotel Mont Parnes
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHotel Mont Parnes is a historic mountain hotel complex north of Athens that became home to Greece’s first casino in the Attica region and now operates primarily as Regency Casino Mont Parnes.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Hotel Mont Parnes is a historic hospitality and gaming property on Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, Greece. Although its name refers to the hotel originally established there, the site is now chiefly identified with Regency Casino Mont Parnes, also known as the Parnitha Casino. The complex occupies a prominent mountain location at approximately 1,078 metres above sea level and overlooks the Attica Basin. The property was conceived during the expansion of Greek tourism after the re-establishment of the Greek National Tourism Organization in 1950. In 1958, the authorities approved a large mountain resort project comprising a luxury hotel, bungalows, restaurants, a small open-air theatre and sports facilities across a substantial estate. Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis supported the project and reportedly suggested the name Mont Parnes as an allusion to Paris’s Montparnasse district. Architect Pavlos Mylonas designed the principal building, while contractor and civil engineer Aristeidis Alafouzos undertook construction. The hotel was built between 1958 and 1961 and formally opened on 17 June 1961. At its opening, Hotel Mont Parnes was described as the first luxury hotel in the Attica region, preceding the opening of the Athens Hilton. Its architecture and interiors incorporated the work of several prominent Greek artists and designers. Features included a swimming pool designed by Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, artistically furnished salons, a distinctive spiral staircase and interiors associated with artists including Yannis Tsarouchis, Yannis Moralis, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Panagiotis Tetsis and Evgenios Spatharis. The property was intended to combine high-end accommodation with a broader mountain leisure destination. Commercial performance as a hotel was disappointing. Contemporary accounts described the property as having more employees than guests, and the hotel did not operate during the winter season of 1963–64. Management during 1962–63 was assigned to Chaire Rhore Hotels Greece S.A., and a Swiss hotel school operated on the premises for a period. The hotel eventually stopped operating in 1974. Gaming transformed the site. In 1969, authorities decided to authorize a casino at the hotel, at a time when Greek casinos operated only in Corfu and Rhodes. The casino, operated by Cypriot businessman Frixos Dimitriou, opened in February 1971 in a purpose-built addition. An aerial tramway constructed in 1972 by the Swiss company Habegger improved access from the mountain road and later became known as the Parnitha Funitel. The casino continued after the hotel closed and was particularly successful during its first decade. By the late 1980s, it was regarded as one of Europe’s larger casinos. The property entered state ownership in 1984 through the Greek National Tourism Organization. Its history subsequently became linked to privatization, redevelopment, heritage protection and structural safety. The 1999 Athens earthquake caused major damage, including cracking, the displacement of the northwest wing, and the collapse of the nightclub and other areas. Theft and abandonment worsened the condition of the former hotel structure. A privatization process launched in 2001 ultimately favored the Hyatt–Hellenic Technodomiki consortium. The transaction was approved in stages and ratified by Parliament in 2003, covering a 49 percent interest in the casino and its management. Renovation work began in 2003–04, while the old cable-car station was replaced in 2005. Proposals to replace or substantially rebuild the hotel generated opposition from preservationists. Three facades were protected by the Central Council of Modern Monuments in 2008, but a later assessment in 2010 concluded that the building was close to collapse and would need demolition, with a replacement complex intended to retain elements of the original design. A proposed transfer of the casino to Maroussi was blocked by Greece’s High Court in January 2021, although subsequent legislative changes allowed the transfer process to proceed. In July 2025, Regency Entertainment received a Hellenic Gaming Commission licence to operate online casinos in Greece in partnership with SkillOnNet. The property’s identity therefore spans luxury hospitality, modern Greek architectural heritage, land-based gaming and the broader digital expansion of its operator.
History
Hotel Mont Parnes originated in the postwar expansion of Greek tourism. After the Greek National Tourism Organization was re-established in 1950, the government promoted a network of modern tourist facilities designed by leading Greek architects. In 1958, a luxury mountain hotel was approved for Mount Parnitha north of Athens, together with bungalows, restaurants, an open-air theatre and sports facilities. Konstantinos Karamanlis supported the project and is associated with the choice of the name Mont Parnes, a reference to Paris’s Montparnasse. Architect Pavlos Mylonas designed the principal building, and Aristeidis Alafouzos served as contractor and civil engineer. Construction took place from 1958 to 1961. The building opened on 17 June 1961 in the presence of Karamanlis and was the first luxury hotel in the Attica region, opening before the Athens Hilton. Its five-storey structure contained approximately 240 rooms and occupied a mountain site with wide views over the Attica Basin. The interiors were conceived as a showcase for modern Greek design and art. Contributions associated with the project included Yannis Tsarouchis, Yannis Moralis, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Panagiotis Tetsis and Evgenios Spatharis. The property included a swimming pool, salons, restaurants and a notable spiral staircase. The hotel failed to attract the volume of guests expected by its promoters. Reports from the early 1960s characterized the operation as overstaffed relative to visitor numbers. Management was assigned to Chaire Rhore Hotels Greece S.A. in 1962–63, and a Swiss hotel school also operated at the site. Seasonal closure during the winter of 1963–64 increased criticism of the project. The hotel ultimately ceased operations in 1974. Gaming provided a new commercial purpose. In 1969, Greece approved plans for a casino at Mont Parnes, at a time when casinos had previously operated only in Corfu and Rhodes. Frixos Dimitriou undertook the casino operation, which opened in February 1971 in a new building constructed for that purpose. In 1972, a Swiss company built an aerial tramway to make the steep mountain approach easier. The system later became known as the Parnitha Funitel. While the hotel closed, the casino remained open and enjoyed its strongest period during its first decade. By the late 1980s, it was described as one of Europe’s largest casinos. The Greek National Tourism Organization acquired the property in 1984. The 1999 Athens earthquake then caused extensive damage: cracks appeared in the building, the northwest wing shifted out of alignment, the nightclub collapsed and hotel, basement, public and auxiliary areas were severely affected. Theft and abandonment compounded the earthquake damage. The state began a new privatization process in 2001. Two consortiums submitted proposals, and the Hyatt–Hellenic Technodomiki consortium won the auction in May 2002. The award was finalized later that year, and Parliament ratified the sales contract in March 2003. The agreement involved a 49 percent casino interest and management rights. A rival consortium challenged the tender without success. Renovation began in 2003–04. The old cable-car station was demolished and replaced in 2005, while plans were developed for a new or substantially reconstructed complex. These plans became controversial because of the architectural and cultural importance of the original building. In 2008, three facades were protected by Greece’s Central Council of Modern Monuments. In 2010, however, authorities concluded that the structure was close to collapse and that rebuilding would be necessary, with a replacement intended to preserve aspects of the original design. The casino’s later history includes a contested proposal to move operations to Maroussi. Greece’s High Court blocked the move in January 2021, but amendments approved by Parliament subsequently enabled the transfer process to proceed. In July 2025, Regency Entertainment, the operator associated with Mont Parnes and venues in Thessaloniki, obtained a Hellenic Gaming Commission licence for online casino operations in Greece in partnership with SkillOnNet. The property consequently represents both a surviving land-based gaming landmark and a historical hotel whose original hospitality function has ended.
- 2025
Online casino licence granted
[1]Regency Entertainment received a Greek online casino licence in partnership with SkillOnNet.
- 2021
Proposed relocation blocked by High Court
[1]The Greek High Court blocked an attempted transfer of the casino to Maroussi.
- 2008
Three facades receive heritage protection
[1]The Central Council of Modern Monuments protected three facades of the historic structure.
- 2003
Privatization contract ratified
[1]Parliament ratified the agreement covering a 49 percent casino interest and management.
- 2002
Privatization auction won
[1]Hyatt–Hellenic Technodomiki won the auction for the complex.
- 1999
Earthquake damages the building
[1]The Athens earthquake caused major structural and interior damage.
- 1984
Property enters state ownership
[1]The Greek National Tourism Organization took possession of the complex.
- 1974
Hotel closes
[1]Hotel operations ended, leaving the casino as the continuing commercial use.
- 1972
Aerial tramway constructed
[1]A Swiss-built aerial tramway opened to improve access to the mountain property.
- 1971
Casino Mont Parnes inaugurated
[1]The casino opened in February in a purpose-built facility.
Products and positioning
A landmark mountain gaming and leisure destination combining a historic Attica resort setting, panoramic views, Greek architectural heritage and casino entertainment.
Luxury hotel · 1961
Hotel Mont Parnes
The original luxury mountain hotel opened in 1961 with approximately 240 rooms, restaurants, salons, a swimming pool, leisure facilities and panoramic views of Attica. It was designed as part of a broader tourism complex but ceased operating as a hotel in 1974.
Land-based casino · 1971
Regency Casino Mont Parnes
The casino opened in 1971 in a purpose-built facility on the hotel premises. It became the principal continuing use of the site after the hotel closed and is also known as the Parnitha Casino.
Aerial tramway · 1972
Parnitha Funitel
Built in 1972 by a Swiss company, the aerial tramway connected the mountain casino and hotel site with the approach road, reducing reliance on the winding road route.
Online casino · 2025
Regency online casino operations
In 2025, Regency Entertainment received a Hellenic Gaming Commission licence for online casino operations in Greece in partnership with SkillOnNet. The licence represents a digital extension of the group’s gaming business rather than a continuation of the original hotel service.
Brand decisions
2025
Expand into online casino gamingProduct launchBackground
Regency Entertainment sought to extend its Greek gaming operations into the digital market.
Action taken
The Hellenic Gaming Commission granted Regency Entertainment an online casino licence in partnership with SkillOnNet.
Aftermath
The licence broadened the operator’s offering beyond the land-based Mont Parnes casino.
2021
Pursue relocation to MaroussiStrategyBackground
The operator sought to transfer casino operations from the mountain site to Maroussi.
Action taken
The proposed relocation was challenged in court and later supported by changes to the relevant Greek legislation.
Aftermath
The High Court initially blocked the move in January 2021, while subsequent parliamentary action allowed the transfer process to proceed.
2010
Plan replacement of structurally unsafe buildingGeneration changeBackground
Assessments following the 1999 earthquake concluded that the historic hotel structure was close to collapse and that restoration of a damaged wing was not feasible.
Action taken
Authorities determined that the building would need to be demolished and replaced by a complex reflecting the original design.
Aftermath
The proposal remained contested because of the building’s architectural and heritage significance.
2001
Launch privatization processM&ABackground
The state-owned complex required investment after earthquake damage, deterioration and the decline of the former hotel building.
Action taken
A tender was opened to privatize the complex and its casino interests.
Aftermath
The Hyatt–Hellenic Technodomiki consortium won the subsequent auction and the agreement was ratified in 2003.
- Casino Attica consortium — The competing consortium filed an unsuccessful legal challenge to the tender.
1969
Introduce casino gaming at the hotelStrategyBackground
The hotel attracted fewer guests than expected, while casino gaming had previously been limited in Greece to Corfu and Rhodes.
Action taken
Authorities approved a casino on the Mont Parnes premises, with a new building constructed for the gaming operation.
Aftermath
The casino opened in 1971 and became the property’s enduring commercial function after the hotel closed in 1974.
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