The Hellenic Initiative (THI) supports the Greek delegation in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Greece.

Six Greek entrepreneurs were selected to participate in the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which took place from the 22nd to the 24th of June 2016 in Palo Alto, California.

As part of President Obama’s commitment to expand support for entrepreneurship and economic opportunity around the world, the GES has brought together the best innovators, thinkers, social entrepreneurs, and investors since 2010. Each GES has taken place in a different region of the world, from the United States to Sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s GES took place on the campus of Stanford University, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The Greek entrepreneurs Participating in GES 2016

• Ioanna Fotopoulou - Project Manager, Social Impact Award 
  
  
• Zoi Giavri - CEO, Advantis Medical Imaging
  
  
• Magy Kontou - Co-founder & Head of Innovation, SimpleApps / Tourismart
  
  
• Anastasia Siapka - Co-Founder, Code it Like a Girl
  
  
• Konstantinos Synodinos - Founder, Championsid.com
  
  
• Xenia Vasiliadis - Founder, TripElina

The Greek delegation included five women, signaling the important role of women in the Greek entrepreneurship ecosystem. The U.S. Department of State and GES provided funding to the participation of these select entrepreneurs, as well as one Greek media representative, Maria Akrivou of Fortune Greece. The Hellenic Initiative (THI), an important partner of the U.S. Embassy on projects related to business development in Greece, also provided part of the costs of the Greek delegation. During the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, the Greek delegation had the opportunity to network with hundreds of their peers from all over the world and identify opportunities for collaboration and funding. 

The aim of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit is to connect entrepreneurs across the globe with the access and exchange needed to create and innovate, unleashing their power to change the world. The United States hosted the seventh Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which was previously hosted by the United States and the governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Morocco, and Kenya. In bringing the Summit back to the United States, President Obama highlights his commitment to building bridges that help us tackle global challenges together.

Goals of the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit

• Showcase inspiring entrepreneurs and investors from around the world, creating new opportunities for investment, partnership, and collaboration.
  
  
• Connect American entrepreneurs and investors with their international counterparts to form lasting relationships.
  
  
• Highlight entrepreneurship as means to address some of the most intractable global challenges.

Hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Silicon Valley highlights America’s entrepreneurial spirit and allows American investors and entrepreneurs to see the talent, solutions, and opportunities that exist globally. The summit included a wide range of workshops, panels, ignite talks, pitch competitions, mentoring and networking sessions. These gave participants tailored opportunities to gain skills and relationships that help their ventures grow. Within the Summit, there were also demonstration areas, experiential learning exhibitions, and opportunities to connect with industry experts.

The support for the Greek delegation is part of the efforts of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Athens to promote collaboration between Greek and American entrepreneurs and initiatives, especially among youth.

For more information on the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016, please visit: GES 2016

For more information about the Hellenic Initiative, please visit: THI

To celebrate World Environment Day, which is observed every year on the 5th of June, the Athens International Airport (AIA) had a recycling competition for all airport employees. Their aim was to raise awareness and encourage recycling throughout the airport.

AIA has repeatedly been awarded for its efforts to promote environmentally friendly practices including winning the Ecopolis Environmental Awareness Award for its work in monitoring ecosystems in the area of airport and protection of biodiversity and wildlife. AIA has also been recognized for its practices in waste management, recycling, and CO2 emissions reduction as well as for its overall contribution to environmental protection and sustainable development.

AIA’s initiatives include holding a one-day workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change in Eastern Attica, bringing together representatives from ministries, local government, universities and NGOs. AIA has provided educational materials and themed excursions to schools, started an educational program at local elementary schools to raise awareness about water management, and provided scholarship funding for two postgraduate students at the University of the Aegean.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Who said that sushi was a luxurious option only for people with large wallets? It's not anymore! You can now enjoy favourites such as maki, rolls & nigiri without breaking the bank.

Price Point: $$-$$$
Dress Code: Casual

Kazoku

Kazoku in Japanese means family and this is how you're going to feel there, just like family in a warm and friendly environment. It is small place, but it has great value for your money. It opened about a year ago in Glyfada and it welcomed the lovers of Japanese cuisine just a few meters from Kyprou square. Patrons will have the chance to try the excellent and fresh rolls like the dragon, but also the spicy salmon, rainbow, tiger tempura and the amazing duck salad. Prices range from 17€ per person.

Location: 11 Foivis, Glifada
Telephone: 210 8944549

Price Point: $$
Dress Code: Casual

Shisan Sushi Bar

This new affordable Sushi place in Holargos is a small and friendly spot where you will eat a lot and the prices are great! You may start with salmon or tuna tutaki and may continue with excellent and fresh shisan rolls. You can't leave without trying the Mochi Chocolate, a cream made from rice with a chocolate flavour. They also have take away meals and a delivery service. Prices range from 12€ per person.

Location: 24 Mesogeion, Holargos
Telephone: 210 6510011

Price Point: $$
Dress Code: Casual

Yoshi Sushi Bar

Yoshi Sushi has managed to attract people from all over Athens. Hidden within the Plaza shopping mall, it is a modern place that promises to teach us the secrets of the Japanese cuisine. The best selling dishes are the sushi combos (from 12€), which include a taste from each category of the menu. Ask the waitor about the dish of the day as the restaurant offers something new everyday.

Location: 7 Platonos, Halandri
Telephone: 216 7006857

Price Point: $$-$$$
Dress Code: Casual

Tourism is one of Greece’s main sectors and in a report issued by Alpha Bank, Greece stands to gain traffic this year. Tourism will also get a boost from the upgrade of regional airports in Kalamata, Naxos, Syros, Milos, and Paros.

However, the refugee crisis is reflected, according to the analysis, in a decline of tourism to the Dodecanese islands in the first five months of 2016 — down by 21.9 percent on Kos, 59.9 percent on Lesvos (bearing the brunt of incoming refugee movement) and 40.6 percent on Samos — and partially offset by stronger arrivals to Crete, the Ionian islands and the Cyclades.

At the same time, the Bank of Greece issued a report which found tourist arrivals in the first three months of the year down by 5.3 percent year-on-year to 2.5 million visitors compared to 2.7 million. Travel spending, however, per trip on average grew by 365.9 euros for the first four months of 2016 against 360.3 euros.

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) expects 27.5 million visitors this year against 23.6 million in 2015 and revenue to the tune of 15 billion euros compared to 14.2 billion euros in 2015. The EU remains Greece’s main market despite a 10.9 percent decline in the first four months against last year.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

In an interview given by Embassy News, Michalis Stangos, who is co-founder of Industry Disruptors-Game Changers (ID-GC), a non-profit/non-governmental organisation that was founded to promote entrepreneurship in Greece, discussed the current opportunities and challenges Greek start-ups are faced with and the ‘Start Tel Aviv 2016’ competition. Greek start-ups have been vital to the economy during the last few years and what ID-GC does is focus its strategy on industry sectors that offer a competitive advantage and aims at supporting start-ups and young entrepreneurs.

Interview to Eleftheria Pantziou

EN: Please, provide us with some information on ID-GC’s main objectives.

Michalis Stangos: Industry Disruptors-Game Changers (ID-GC) is an organization created three years ago by a group of young entrepreneurs, whose business survived the crisis. We decided to take action in order to help young entrepeneurs and people with innovative ideas, stay in Greece and pursue their dreams. The whole idea is to change the mindset, as there are many talents in Greece, but we see many people migrating to pursue a career abroad, whether in academia or in business. We tried to change the mindset and create an organization that would help the youth become more extroversive, gain opportunities and become the next generation of entrepreneurs.

During these three years we managed to raise around 2.5 million euros that we distributed through grant programs and scholarships addressed to startups. We do not work on commission as ID-GC is a non-profit organization.

We also organize “Investor Days” and boot camps to match entrepreneurs and investors with startups. This has also generated a lot of deals and funding opportunities for startups in Greece and abroad.

EN: What are some of the initiatives undertaken by ID-GC on business and education?

Michalis Stangos: Our initiatives include international competitions and our structure is sectoral, as we focus on a) healthcare, b) cleantech and energy, c) agro and agrotechnology, d) creative industry – from gaming to architecture and art, e) Information & Communications Technology (ICT) and f) tourism.

We collaborate with big institutions and organizations in Greece and abroad, as well as sectoral associations such as SFEE – the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies and SEV – the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises. Also with Greece’s major universities. Along with the Athens University of Economics and Business we created a national MBA, that focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship.

In private-public partnership with the University, an NGO and a major multinational company from the pharmaceutical sector, we’ve managed to provide 22 scholarships. As a result a student is able to conclude an MBA and at the same time develop his/her idea into a business.

Also with the University of Thessaly and the National Hellenic Research Foundation we have developed the first Master’s program in Bioentepreneurship. With the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens we are working on an incubation program and we are also launching a new incubator program with the National Technical University of Athens.

The City of Athens has made some efforts to promote entrepreneurship and Greek start-ups, through Innovathens and other initiatives.

EN: What are the main features of a “successful” startup?

Michalis Stangos: The team is the most important element in a start-up. Definately at the end of the day everything is about the team. Also the idea. And it needs a lot of work, hard work and “thrassos” (nerve) as we say in Greek!

To read this interview in full, please visit: Embassy News

Athens has a need for green! With only 0.96 square meters of green area per person, the city hasn’t quite reached the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard of 9 square meters per person. However, that is all changing with a new app designed by World Wildlife Fund Greece (WWF) in order to improve public urban green spaces and encouraging active involvement from the citizens.

 

The app GreenSpaces, which is free and available on your mobile device, lets users tag and post photos of parks and green areas and rate them based on cleanliness, tidiness, and overall maintenance. To help facilitate interaction among users, the app is designed so others can report ratings they see as unfair or under-explained. People can report rubbish on the ground, vandalism, and even unscooped pet poop.

Achilleas Plitharas, head of the environmental organization’s Better Life campaign said, “We are aiming to motivate people to get out of their homes, to care more about the green oases that may exist in their city or neighborhood. We also wanted to find a way to motivate the municipal authorities, many of which typically take an interest in green areas only during election campaigns. And we wanted to make all this as user-friendly as possible.”

Nikos Belavilas, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Urban Design at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Head of the Urban Environment Laboratory, hopes GreeceSpace will make locals take responsibility for keeping the green areas in good condition.

“A key distinction needs to be made. This is not Stockholm with its wet, cool climate and rich soil. This is the Mediterranean. You need to love a Greek park for what it is. A park with pine and cypress trees, bushes and wild weeds,” said Belavilas.

Belavilas also stated, “there is very little that can be achieved without a change in mentality without putting pressure on municipal authorities and without strengthening the citizens’ role in all this.”

For more information about the WWF Greece, please visit: WWF Greece

To install GreenSpace, click here.

Source: Greece Is

Privileged prices for your airline tickets!

“Santorini Experience” continues to innovate by bringing closer to the people, the unique beauty of the worldwide destination of the island of Santorini, on 7-9 October 2016!

After the announcement of the cooperation with the leading TV channel FOX Sports of FOX Networks Group, another significant cooperation, this time with the airline, Ryanair, is achieved for the first time at a sports tourism event, in Greece.

The company will undertake to carry with safety and credibility as the official airline partner of “Santorini Experience” the visitors of the event contributing to the goal for the extension of the tourist season and the promotion of the island as a destination for 365 days a year.

Further to the announcement of this collaboration, Ryanair’s Sales and Marketing Manager for Greece and Eastern Mediterranean, Chiara Ravara said, “As Europe’s largest airline, Ryanair is pleased to support the Santorini Experience event, in what is one of the world’s most sought after destinations. With its breath-taking and diverse landscapes, its mild climate in the four seasons, it is an ideal destination for active holidays and for sports addicts. Ryanair is fully committed further growing and developing Greek tourism and in promoting Greece as a year-round destination, and we look forward to bringing more customers to the ultimate sport experience on the island. To celebrate, we’re launching a seat sate with fares starting from just 19.99€, which are available for booking only on Thursday 14 July & Friday 15 July for travel between 5 to 12 October. Since these amazing low prices will be snapped up quickly, customers interested in joining the event as active participants should log onto Ryanair and avoid missing out.”

On 7-9 October 2016, people will have the opportunity to discover the sport side of Santorini!

On Saturday October 8th 2016, professional and amateur runners will be able to run and live the adrenaline of Caldera!

The starting time for both 10 km and 15 km routes is at 08:15 am in the morning, while the starting time of the 5km route will take place at 11:00. All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia.

Moreover, on Sunday October 9th 2016, professional and amateur swimmers will be able to sense the eruptive atmosphere of the volcano with the impressive view of the island in front of them!

The starting time of the unique swimming route of 1.5 mile (2.4 km) of “Santorini Experience”, will take place at 10:00 am, from the volcano to the old port in Fira.

Registrations in swimming and running continue with an undiminished pace through the official page of the event in the following link: http://activemedia.com.gr/product/santorini-experience-2/

Dreams… that become memories!

For those wishing to combine sports with tourism and take advantage of their stay in one of the two or three most beautiful islands in the world, if not the most beautiful, privileged packages starting from 300 euro for 2 people for 3 days - 2 nights (including transportation, accommodation, food and participation in the event) will be available. For more information you may contact the hospitality sponsors of the event: Aqua Vista Hotels, Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina Luxury Suites, Central Fira Hotel, Sienna Residencies, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies and Esperas which are available in the following link: http://santorini-experience.com/event_accommodation_en.html. The page will be daily enriched with new supporters and in the upcoming days discounts on ferry tickets to Santorini will be announced.

“Santorini Experience” will be held under the auspices of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and will have the international promotion by FOX Sports of FOX Networks Group that participates this year as an Official Broadcaster of the event.

“Santorini Experience” is collaboration between the Municipality of Santorini, the Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (D.A.P.P.O.S.) and Active Media Group.

Official Sponsors: Alafouzos Sport, Santorini Boatmen Union

Official Airline Partner: Ryanair

Official Supporters: “Vikos” Natural Mineral Water, Aqua Vista Hotels, Saucony, Arena, Village Cinemas, Village Cinemas, Passagio Santorini

Official Broadcaster: FOX Sports
Hospitality Sponsors: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina Luxury Suites, Central Fira Hotel, Sienna Residencies, Memories Hotel, Loizos Stylish Residencies

 

Under the auspices of the Hellenic Swimming Federation

Athens, 11th July 2016 – Costa Navarino, the prime sustainable golf destination in the Mediterranean, inaugurates the 1st Messinia Pro Am, on 21-24 February 2017, under the auspices of the PGAs of Europe, the PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Olympic Academy.

When golf meets ancient Greek history…

“Sfairistiki”, the ancestor of all games being played with a club, such as hockey and golf, was among the most popular sports and is being portrayed in many statues and amphoras dating back from 510 to 500 B.C.

Top professional and amateur golf players, celebrities and special guests from all over the world will compete in the awarded golf courses, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course, the only signature golf courses in Greece. The athletes will have the opportunity to enjoy the ideal weather conditions, the Mediterranean landscape and the stunning view of the Ionian Sea and Bay of Navarino, while playing golf amid lush olive groves and rolling hills.

Costa Navarino is home to “The Dunes Course”, the first signature 18 hole golf course, designed by Bernhard Langer, former US Masters champion and chief of the Ryder Cup European team, in association with European Golf Design. The Dunes Course features a 3,500 square meters golf club as well as a Golf Academy. The Bay Course came next, an 18 hole seaside golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., located next to the historic Bay of Navarino and awarded among the “Best of the Best Golf Courses” by Robb Report. Both golf courses have been accolated, as Best Newcomers, by the World of Leading Golf Association, in 2014.

The Messinia Pro Am aims to become an established institution hosting the golfing elite from around the globe, thus contributing to the development and promotion of golf and golf tourism in Greece. Moreover, golf, as of 2016, will again be included in the Olympic Games, for the first time after 1900 and 1904.

AEGEAN, member of STAR ALLIANCE, the leading global aviation alliance will be the official airline partner of the event. The airliner was awarded by Skytrax World Airline Awards, for the 5th consecutive time and 6th time over the last 7 years as the best regional airliner in Europe for 2015.

Subscriptions and participation forms will be accepted through the official website of the event: HERE. For those who are interested in staying at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and enjoying the full program of the Messinia Pro Am 2017, special accommodation packages will be in place.



Official Airline Partner: AEGEAN
Organizer: Costa Navarino Website

Athens is a visitor's paradise, with sights, sounds and tastes that leave everyone delighted. As it turns out, Athens is also a busy conference destination, with lots of companies and professional organizations choosing the city for international meetings.

 

I spent the last couple days driving around the 'Athenian Riviera', down the coast along the 'paraliaki', all the way to the southern tip at Cape Sounion. This was a work-related mission to inspect the seaside hotels of Athens, in view of holding a business conference here next year. I saw a number of properties, and was pleasantly surprised by some, and surprisingly disappointed by others.

 

Over 2 days I visited:

• Divani Apollon
• The Margi
• Astir Palace
• Westin Athens
• Grand Resort Lagonissi
• Grecotel Cape Sounion
  
  

In general, I'd say a few of these places need some updating - removal of decades-old carpets, a fresh coat of paint, some updated décor. But a couple of them are simply gems - for reasons you might not guess. For example, the Divani Apollon has one of the biggest and most impressive spas in Europe! Quite unexpected. If I'm being completely honest, I'd have to say that I expected 'more' - more 'wow' properties, more choice, more consistency in terms of quality throughout the entire property range. Nonetheless, there are a number of solid options for a business conference.

To be sure, these are not cheap places. Group rates for September start in the high-100's per night - and go up quite quickly to the 300€+ range. But for a business conference, these are more-or-less in line with other European capitals for business conference rates.

In the end we chose The Margi - it combines the gorgeous style and service of a boutique hotel, with the modern meeting room facilities we need, a kitchen run by a well-known (and skilled!) chef, and a brand-new extra-large luxe swimming pool. They also run The Margi Farm, an organic farm where they grow much of the food served in the restaurant. The Margi is not directly on a beach, but you can reach Astir Beach on foot within literally 3 minutes.

If you're looking for a gem of a hotel along the Riviera, The Margi is it. Just forget about mid-September 2017 - we reserved the whole place.

Until next week,

Jack

The Margi
11 Litous Street, Vouliagmeni
www.themargi.gr
www.margifarm.gr

Divani Apollon
Agiou Nikolaou 10, Vouliagmeni
www.divaniapollonhotel.com

Crete is the largest island in Greece so there's an abundance of things to do and see. It’s the center of the earliest recorded civilization in Europe. The Venetians, the Ottomans, and others, all of whom left their architectural marks from mosques to castles to fortresses, have occupied it. It’s home to the longest gorge in Europe, full of indigenous wildflowers and shy feral goats. So as not to miss anything, here is a checklist from Paste Magazine that highlights the top sites to visit.

1. Knossos Palace - The largest and most elaborate Minoan palace on Crete is considered to be Europe’s oldest city, and offers an excellent introduction to an island so central to Greek myths.
   
   
2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum - The magnificent holdings at this museum go back thousands of years of human history, from Crete’s earliest settlements, dating to the Neolithic period through Roman times. The large model of Knossos is one item not to miss.
   
   
3. Samaria Gorge - One of Europe’s longest canyons boasts 1,000-foot cliffs. Hikers wind down from a wooden staircase at the southern end of the Omalos Plateau through rugged, dramatic terrain all the way to the Libyan Sea. Then you can have a swim or continue walking along the coast.
   
   
4. Elafonisi Beach - In this protected nature reserve, you’ll find white sand tinted reddish pink by coral, as well as a part of the Mediterranean Sea so shallow during low tide that you can wade out to an uninhabited island home to 100+ types of plants and flowers.
   
   
5. Cretan Wine Country - The world’s oldest wine press consists of a couple of massive stone urns and a trough through which the liquid flowed 3,500-odd years ago. Peza, an area around the cosmopolitan village of Archanes, produces about 70 percent of Cretan wine. Many wineries welcome visitors by appointment, or you can hang out in the town square, petting the stray dogs and staring at Mount Juktas, which is though to be Zeus’ final resting place.

To read this article in full and for more places to check off for your next visit to Crete, please visit: Paste