The Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for Xenia Kythnos has been put out to public consultation, marking the start of one of the most important investments in the field of wellness tourism in the Cyclades. The project, worth approximately 25 million euros, will last 2-3 years and concerns the complete renovation of the historic hotel complex, which had ceased operations since 1999.
The Israeli investor Avraham Ravid, to whom the property was granted for 99 years following a tender by the Hellenic Development Fund, plans to restore the Spa Tourism – Thermal Center (STC-TH), utilizing the two thermal springs that gush within the plot in the “Loutra” area, in the northeastern part of Kythnos.
In addition, his future plans include increasing the capacity of the hotel unit by adding luxury residences to a plot behind the historic hotel. However, for now, three years have already passed since the signing of the property concession, during which time the investor is trying to advance the licensing process, with the relevant studies going back and forth to the competent services and being modified so that they meet the specifications for the building’s classification as a listed monument and at the same time constitute an attractive hotel and thermal unit.
What will the new complex include
The “Genesis of The Royal Baths of Kythnos” – as it will be called – will have a capacity of 96 beds and will include a modern 5* hotel, two thermal treatment units (TMU) at the springs of Agioi Anargyroi and Kakavos, as well as wellness services for body and spirit. The aim of the investment is to highlight both the therapeutic properties of the springs and the cultural heritage of the area, as stated in the Environmental Impact Study.
Xenia Kythnos has a special historical value: it was built during the reign of Otto by the Danish architect Christian Hansen, later modified by Ernst Ziller (1871-1891) and classified as a historical monument. The area of ??Loutra has developed around the thermal springs that were known since antiquity, while analyses of the springs in 1830 and 1833 had confirmed their therapeutic properties, under the supervision of the royal couple Otto and Amalia, who often visited the area. Today, the marble baths that were used for the royal baths have been preserved.
The investment plan includes the complete restoration of the historical buildings, modernization of the hotel, reconstruction of the tiled roofs, structural reinforcements, energy upgrading, creation of an outdoor thermal pool, configuration of common areas and plantings, as well as the modernization of all technical infrastructure. Particular emphasis is placed on the protection and promotion of the sources of the thermal waters and the configuration of their route to the sea.
The operation of Xenia Kythnos will be annual, with an estimated average occupancy of 65-70% and full employment of 35 people, with an additional 20 indirect employment positions for the local community.
