Original Article : https://www.news247.gr/tourismos/poia-israilini-etaireia-mpainei-stin-agora-filoxenias-athinas-kai-kritis-to-neo-xenodocheio-stin-omonoia.9943260.html
Finders has been active in the Greek real estate market since 2014 and is the company that “brought” to Greece the main investor of Brown Hotels. It is now making a dynamic entry into the hospitality market with hotels and apartments.
With hotels in Athens and Crete, as well as buildings with short-term rental apartments, the Israeli company Finders, which opened its offices in Tel Aviv and Athens in 2014, is expanding its activity in Greece.
The company that is active in the real estate market, is the one that brought to our country the main investors who control the fund of the Brown Hotels hotel chain , introducing them to the first hotels in the area of Omonia. Founded and managed by Amir Mamou, Finders currently manages over 50 million Euros, belonging to 5 Israeli private funds of 10 million Euros each.
Since 2014, the company has carried out more than 90 sales in Greece, having over 130 clients. In its portfolio today it has 19 properties, of which 8 are large , commercial buildings and the rest are apartments, with a total value of approximately 29 million euros.
The Athens offices employ 7 staff members, including the Director of Operations Ms. Irini Panagopoulou, experienced executive of the hotel market. As she states, the decision of Finders to enter the hosting market is strategic and Greece lends itself to this new venture of Finders.
Opening in hotels
In 2022, Finders strategically decided to enter the hospitality space, but also the short-term rental market with its own properties. At the moment, its first hotel is under construction, at the junction of 3rd September and Chalkokondili streets . It is an office and shop building built in the 1950s, which was acquired by the company to become its first hotel.
In the 7-storey building, 49 rooms will be created, particularly spacious, with the smallest being 27 sq.m., while on the 8th floor , the first swimming pool in the Omonia area will be built, which is why significant further support works are being carried out for the building.
A gym will be created, while the ground floor will house the reception area, a focal point for breakfast and lunch, as well as the Finders offices.
The company intends to build the first Finders Real Estate Hub in the same place, where it will have its own properties for public information, but also host independent brokers who want to meet their clients. The hotel is expected to operate for the next season, in the summer, with a large Greek management company taking over its management.
It is worth noting that the artistic director of Finders is the distinguished Greek artist Kirios Criton, who will create a special installation for the entrance of the hotel, while his works will decorate the rooms and will also be available for sale. The hotel will be a smart hotel, with all its functions being done seamlessly, through a cloud application, from the booking stage, check in, purchase of excursions, etc., until check out.
The company also bought the small hotel “Prigipikon” on Veranzerou Street, which will soon undergo a radical renovation in order to operate next year. He also rented a building on Chalkokondili Street that belongs to the Ministry of Education and which will also be turned into a hotel. Finders is in the final phase of the long-term lease of neighboring buildings also in the center of Athens, which it will consolidate and create a hotel.
Entire buildings with apartments for short term rental
The company is expanding its activity in the apartments which it will make available for short-term lease. In detail, on Epirou Street and 3rd of September, Finders is renovating a building to create approximately 17 apartments, while the same will happen in a building in Gazi, but also in Kolonos with 11 apartments. By the end of 2024 the company aims to have in its portfolio 40 apartments , not only in entire buildings but also independently, which it will also give for management to a specialized company.
Important activity in Crete
Apart from Athens, from the beginning the company’s activity was also intense in Crete , specifically in Rethymnon. Finders currently has two villas for sale in the county, having completed many sales and purchases. Just last month, he bought the closed hotel “Skakaki Beach” , in the area of Sfakaki, which he will completely renovate and create villas. The company recently bought two plots of land in Chania, next to the town of Kalyves, where it will also develop villas for short-term rental.