Media: Rejected Hard Rock won’t give up contest for Hellenikon casino

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Media: Rejected Hard Rock won’t give up contest for Hellenikon casinoHard Rock Cafe’s offer was rejected for technical reasons, which could bring a lengthy court challenge at the same time the New Democracy government said construction on the site would begin anyway

Hard Rock said it won’t accept a decision to reject its bid for a casino license at the long-stalled 8-billion-euro ($8.92 billion) development of the abandoned Hellenikon International Airport, setting the stage for what could be a legal challenge further stalling the project Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said would be a landmark for him.

The Connecticut-based Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is the last bidder remaining after Hard Rock Cafe’s offer was rejected for technical reasons, which could bring a lengthy court challenge at the same time the New Democracy government said construction on the site would begin anyway.

A source who wasn’t identified told the news agency Reuters that Hard Rock submitted documents that failed to meet the tender’s criteria for the financing of the project and required construction experience.

Once the bidders are officially notified of the decision, they have the right to appeal within 10 days and then technical offers will follow, although Hard Rock officials earlier said they would challenge if rejected and said the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) was allowing undue interference from its competitor in the process.

The two U.S. groups made their bids in October 2019 for construction and 30-year operation of the casino resort, with Mohegan teaming up with Greek construction company GEK TERNA for the project, considered a key element to the development.

The winner of the tender will build a casino on a site of at least 1.2 hectares (2.96 acres), with a minimum of 120 gaming tables and 1,200 slot machines. There will also be a luxury hotel, entertainment venues, a conference center, a marina, sports center and a park.

Hard Rock Authorized Advisor Michael Karloutsos told The National Herald that, “It is absolutely laughable to think that Hard Rock does not have the financial capacity and construction capability to complete the project at Hellenikon.  If this report is true, I would suggest the Committee and Commission must be confused because it is clear they are referring to our competition.”

Karloutsos noted the company won’t accept the decision. “Hard Rock has said repeatedly that it will take this process ‘to the end,'” including legal action, which could tie up the project.

He said Hard Rock is a global brand that has more than $2.2 billion in projects in the last three months alone and claimed that Mohegan is under financial duress because of growing competition in the industry and not nearly as involved internationally, operating on behalf of other owners in smaller markets and whose hapless effort to open an integrated resort casino in South Korea has been less than Inspiring – ‘Inspire’ is the theme of its Hellenikon campaign and the name of the proposed Korea venue.

He was also upset at what he said were leaks in the press “that have undermined this process from before the beginning,” suggesting the tender was tilted in favor of Mohegan.

“Even our supposed disqualification was leaked to the press prior to Hard Rock receiving official notification from the Government … we don’t even know if it’s true.   These leaks have done an incredible injustice to the Greek people,” he said.

He said Hard Rock, with operations in 75 countries, owns the most profitable single casino in the western hemisphere outside of Las Vegas and “didn’t just show up in Greece two years ago.  It’s been on the ground here in Athens for decades and most importantly in the height of the economic crisis.

“When no one would invest in Greece and Greek companies themselves were fleeing Greece for safer surroundings Hard Rock bought out its franchise and invested millions of dollars in relocating its cafe to Monastiraki … that’s the type of company we need at Hellenikon and that is the type of partner Greece needs to invest in its future.

The site has been empty for 19 years, since the opening of a new airport northeast of Greece’s capital and is a mess of weeds, abandoned buildings, and rusting aircraft, sitting still during the 4 ½-year reign of the former ruling anti-business Radical Left SYRIZA.

Greece’s Lamda Development wants to build an 8-billion-euro ($8.89 billion) mix of high-end commercial and residential space, a marina and park on the 494-acre site.

The business newspaper Naftemporiki and other media said the HGC found that Hard Rock’s letter of guarantee fell short by several days of the date cited in the tender that had been repeatedly delayed by bureaucratic setbacks.

Another, also unconfirmed claim, is that Hard Rock did not sufficiently demonstrate its experience in overseeing similar construction projects, said Naftemporiki, but Hard Rock officials have essentially claimed the fix was in to give the project to Mohegan and that its rivals attorneys were also aiding the HGC.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinationsGreek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Hard Rock Cafe


Tornos
  1. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  2. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  3. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  4. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  5. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  6. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  7. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  8. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  9. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  10. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  11. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  12. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  13. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  14. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  15. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  16. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  17. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  18. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  19. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  20. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  21. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  22. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  23. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  24. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  25. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  26. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  27. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  28. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  29. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  30. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  31. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  32. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  33. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  34. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  35. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  36. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  37. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  38. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  39. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  40. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  41. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  42. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  43. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  44. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  45. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  46. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  47. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  48. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  49. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  50. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  51. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  52. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  53. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  54. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  55. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  56. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  57. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  58. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  59. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  60. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  61. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  62. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  63. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  64. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  65. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  66. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  67. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  68. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  69. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  70. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April

  71. 26/02 18:27

    Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting

  72. 26/02 17:25

    Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion

  73. 26/02 16:33

    Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese

  74. 26/02 16:21

    Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday

  75. 25/02 12:30

    Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity

  76. 24/02 20:39

    Greek PM meets Qatar Emir: Focus on bilateral cooperation and investments

  77. 24/02 18:25

    Prescription cannabis for medicinal use legally available in Greece for the first time

  78. 24/02 17:19

    MInister: The aim is to make fishing and fish-farming a key pillar of the economy

  79. 23/02 23:36

    Greek Prime Minister arrives in Doha to be received by Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi

  80. 23/02 23:26

    The Festival of Greek Dances takes place in the Metropolis of San Francisco

  81. 23/02 21:32

    Revealing "70 Years of Friendship: Greece's photo journey through the Korean War"

  82. 23/02 17:15

    16 Greek firms showcase at international fashion exhibitions in London

  83. 23/02 14:09

    Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday

  84. 22/02 18:15

    Bill for non-state, non-profit universities being tabled in Greek Parliament on Thursday

  85. 22/02 18:13

    Temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians extended in Greece to March 2025

  86. 22/02 18:10

    American Hellenic Institute Golden Jubilee celebration Includes concert on April 12

  87. 22/02 18:09

    Tourism Minister stresses importance of strong relationship of Greece with Serbia

  88. 22/02 17:58

    Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center

  89. 21/02 19:47

    Twistic and WeavAIR startups clinch the UN Tourism Hospitality Challenge

  90. 21/02 18:34

    Greece's key aim is enhancing relations with India

  91. 21/02 18:13

    Traffic in Athens returning to normal after tractors depart from the Greek capital

  92. 21/02 13:01

    Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition

  93. 21/02 00:55

    Resilience through diversity and investments the aim of UN Tourism visit to Jamaica

  94. 20/02 23:38

    Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning

  95. 20/02 20:43

    Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday

  96. 20/02 16:51

    Minister: Greece wants to become India's gateway to the European Union

  97. 19/02 21:19

    DEFEA Conference to be held at Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens on May 15

  98. 19/02 19:06

    Traffic restrictions for farmers' rally in central Athens on Tuesday

  99. 19/02 18:11

    Greece wins top tourist destination award at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden

  100. 19/02 14:23

    Health Minister: Option of afternoon surgeries at public hospitals start in Greece