Nikos Michalos: The ethical future of the Athenian Riviera
Nikos Michalos, co-founder of NouPou Media and a native of Glyfada, shares his own experiential view on the prospects and challenges of modern hospitality in the Southern Suburbs.
- 14/07/2025, 15:12
IN 2004, GLYFADA only knew one street: Zisimopoulou. That same year, Balux opened — “the club by the swimming pool”, as we Southerners used to say —and something began to change. A little later, in 2007, the second Balux arrived, completing the transition of Glyfada residents towards the seaside. Fast forward to the summer of 2025. The Riviera Tower is rising day by day and the Athenian Riviera is living its best moments. International hotel groups are “landing”, top hospitality brands are taking our culinary experiences to the next level, and top names in music are coming to perform — something that previously seemed unthinkable.
However, the “party” is not for everyone. Fine dining/living may have entered our lives dynamically, but a large part of the Greek people does not have the financial means to support it. Growth is necessary, but it requires balance. Another pressing issue is finding suitable personnel, since this sector is mainly supplied by domestic workforce. At the same time, a sector that remains unexploited is that of wellness. We live in a country that offers sun 12 months a year — and yet, from November to March, the Riviera almost goes into “hibernation.” It is time to create the conditions for a second summer, based on wellness activities and quality hospitality. In conclusion, the future of hospitality in the South will not be determined only by investments or brands, but also by our behavior. Empathy, discretion and ethical behavior — towards the customer and among ourselves — can become the element that will differentiate us internationally. Perhaps kindness is, or should become, the new Athens Riviera coolness.
Published in “White Paper: The Big Business of the South”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the current landscape and future prospects of the Athens Riviera.