Xenia 2025 – The Red Spot Stage

Xenia 2025, Greece’s leading tourism exhibition, returns to the Metropolitan Expo from November 22 to 24.

For the third consecutive year, ek magazine -drawing on its extensive experience in architecture, construction, and design- will curate and coordinate the architectural presentations at “The Red Spot Stage.”

The stage has been designed by Rena Sakellaridou and her practice RS Sparch, creating a space of exceptional aesthetics that will host prominent Greek architects, contractors, lighting designers, and hotel managers. Through carefully selected case studies, the program will explore the challenges and solutions behind recently completed hospitality projects.

This year’s presentations will be structured around three main sections:

Creating Synergies

Case studies dedicated to newly completed hotel projects. Each session will bring together the project architect with their team of collaborators (lighting designers, landscape architects, contractors), alongside the hotel owner or representative. This format offers a comprehensive view of the project’s journey, highlighting strategies, experiences, and key challenges, from initial concept to final realization.

The categories include:

• Resort
• City
• Villas
• Renovation / Reuse

Design & Business Planning

Talks focusing on strategy, planning, and hotel operations, with a strong emphasis on preparing for inclusion in and financing through investment programs. Each day of the three-day event will feature a specialized presentation on ESPA (National Strategic Reference Framework) funding programs, delivered by renowned strategic and investment consultants. These sessions aim to equip participants with practical tools for planning, financing, and growing their tourism ventures.

Hotel Design Trends

Dynamic panels and presentations that showcase the latest developments in hotel design and operations, introducing forward-thinking ideas and innovative practices. Discussions will address the evolution of the modern hotel experience, the strengthening of branding and identity, and the role of storytelling as a key driver in creating distinctive hospitality experiences. Topics will also include green energy, sustainable development, technology & digitalization, as well as wellbeing & biophilic design. The program seeks to demonstrate how architecture and design shape the future of hospitality by combining high aesthetics with functionality and sustainability.

Detailed Program of Talks:

Saturday, November 22

Design and Business Planning

11:45–12:30  Funding Methods for Investments in the Tourism Sector

• Konstantinos Pantelis | CEO, Anodos Group

Creating Synergies

12:30–13:00  JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa | Resort

• Sotiris Tsergas | Architect, Block722 Architects
• Antonis Vasilakis | Owner, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa

13:00–13:45  Electra Rhythm Athens | City

• Manos Gogoulis | Architect, Mutiny Architects
• Evi Kapeli | Creative Strategy & Development Director, Interweave
• Loukianos Tiktopoulos | Partner & Project Manager, Ballian Techniki
• Giorgos Spyropoulos | COO, Electra Rhythm Athens

13:45–14:15  The Social Athens Hotel | City

• Maria Papafigou | Architect, OOAK Architects
• Konstantinos Chondroyiannis | CEO, BC Perigramma

Hotel Design Trends

14:15–15:00  Green Development & Sustainable Hospitality: From Energy to Materials

• Stratos Boumpouras | Technical Training Manager, Vitex
• Miltiadis Babilis | General Director of E-Mobility, DEI blue
• Achilleios Karamitsos | Ventilation Business Development Senior Officer, Daikin Europe
• Eugenios Vasilikos | President, Athens, Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association

Creating Synergies

15:00–15:30  Rocabella Mykonos | Renovation

• Eleftherios Ambatzis | Architect, Eleftherios Ambatzis Studio
• Roi Kalfopoulou | General Manager, Rocabella Mykonos Hotel

15:30–16:15  Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port | City

• Dimitris Travasaros | Architect, Divercity Architects
• Apostolos Michalovits | General Manager, Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port
• Spyros Naoumidis | Director, Mitsis Group – Pyramid Construction & Design

Sunday, November 23

Design and Business Planning

11:45–12:30  New Funding Opportunities for the Sustainable Development of Tourism Enterprises

• Kostas Vamvakas | Founder, VK Premium

Creating Synergies

12:30–13:15  Athens Capital Suites | City

• Alexandros Masouridis | Architect, MTArchitects
• Magdalini Sgouridi | Architect, Mare Studio
• Marios Papaparisis | Lighting Designer, Light Plus
• Evripidis Tzikas | General Manager, Athens Capital Hotel & Athens Capital Suites

13:15–14:00  Anthology of Athens | City

• Ria Vogiatzis | Architect, Elastic Architects
• Kostas Efthymiou | Focal Project Managers, Project Manager
• Olga Karaververi | Fashion Designer

Hotel Design Trends

14:00–14:45  Branding – Storytelling

• Manos Babounis | Interior Designer, Trail Practice
• Dimitris Koliadimas | Creative Director, Semiotik Design
• Panagiotis Voumvakis | Architectural Photographer

Creating Synergies

14:45–15:15  Homa Villas | Villas

• Iliana Kerestetzi | Architect, Mold Architects
• Takis Theofilopoulos | Owner, Homa Villas Serifos

15:15–16:00  Minos Palace | Resort & Renovation

• Afroditi Bonatsou | Interior Designer, Stones & Walls
• Vasiliki Mamidaki | BDO, Bluegr Hotels & Resorts
• Angelos Pagkalos | COO, Bluegr Hotels & Resorts

16:00–16:45  Alkyna Lifestyle Beach Resort | Resort

• Anna Koutsoukosta | Architect, AMK Architects
• Marina Filippidi | Interior Designer, AMK Architects
• Chloe Kazamia | Lighting Designer, CK Design Lighting
• Kostas Sideris | Owner, Álkyna Lifestyle Beach Resort

Monday, November 24

Design & Business Planning

11:45–12:30  Financial Tools & Tourism

• Manolis Koutelias | Director of Investments and Projects, Noisis

Creating Synergies

12:30–13:15  Hilton Chania Old Town | City

• Giorgos Kontaxakis | Architect, K-Arch
• Manolis Darakis | Project Manager, Hotelleading
• Carlos Malliaroudakis | COO, Hotelleading

Hotel Design Trends

13:15–14:00  Renovating Hotel Rooms: Ideas & Materials

• Michalis Kraounakis | Architect, K-Division
• Evangelia Tsiourva | R&D Department, Exalco
• Christina Moudara | Lighting Designer, HUB Lighting & Innovation by Kafkas

Creating Synergies

14:00–14:45  Pnoes Tinos Luxury Villas | Villas

• Aristides Dallas | Architect, Aristides Dallas Architects
• Charitina Trikka | Interior Designer, Aristides Dallas Architects
• Christos Papachristos | Lighting Designer, CPLD Lighting Design

14:45–15:30  Adama Boutique Hotel | Boutique Hotel

• Michalis Tzagkarakis | Architect, Tzagkarakis + Associates
• Carola Born | Interior Designer, Hidden Gem
• Giorgos Anagnostakis | Lighting Designer, IFI Lighting
• Leonidas Oikonomou | Roleplay, Founder & Creative Director

15:30–16:00  Amphitheatro Boutique Hotel | Renovation

• Ilias Theodorakis | Architect, Ateno Studio
• Giorgos Vasileiou | Owner, Amphitheatro Boutique Hotel

16:00–16:45  Serendi Villas | Villas

• Kostas Gagos | Interior Designer, Costas Gagos Architecture & Design
• Giannis Papacharalambous | Director, Bagno Y Bagno
• Fotini Iatrou | Lighting Designer, SKIA Lighting

• Kostas Amanitis | Amanitis Architects, Αρχιτέκτονας