A joint decision of the Ministry of Tourism and the General Directorate of Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy approved the creation of a Complex Tourist Accommodation, covering an area of ??249,401.87 sq m. in Plaka, Elounda, by the company PHAEA HOTEL AND TOURIST ENTERPRISES S.A.
The Complex Tourist Accommodation includes 2 five-star hotels with a total capacity of 461 beds and in particular the existing Blue Palace hotel complex with a capacity of 452 beds, with a new capacity of 348 beds and the existing hotel complex of furnished apartments (bungalows) with 99 beds (formerly “Argo”) with a new capacity of 113 beds.
It also includes 44 Tourist Furnished Residences with a total capacity of 170 beds, a revitalization center (spa) with a capacity of 70 people as a Special Tourist Infrastructure Facility of the Complex Tourist Accommodation, and a revitalization center (spa) with a capacity of 30 people as an additional special tourist infrastructure facility.
The energy needs of the project are mainly covered by the existing PPC electricity supply network. Part of the project’s energy needs are covered by the use of LPG (mainly for the operation of laundries and kitchens).
In order to contribute to the energy balance and cover part of the energy requirements of the development, it is planned to install and operate a photovoltaic energy production system, with a capacity of 999.9 kWp interconnected to the medium voltage network.
In all buildings, the existing air conditioning systems and networks will be dismantled and new ones will be installed. In residential buildings, the systems will be of the heat pump type, multi-split, with variable refrigerant flow and recovery.
For Tourist Residences, a heat pump-tank will be connected to the above system for the production of hot water for use and distribution to the underfloor heating circuits. The irrigation needs of the Complex Tourist Accommodation amount to 102,521 m³ and will be covered mainly by the treated wastewater of the hotel unit (73,787 m³), ??while for the remaining uses, desalinated water from the boreholes will be used.
In order to protect and highlight the elements of the cultural heritage, it is planned, among other things, to preserve the cobblestones on the western side of the property and possibly in other locations, where their remains are identified, by cleaning, repairing, opening the wooded or blocked sections, so as to restore their continuity and put them into use as walking paths.
When forming roads for vehicles, it is planned not to affect the cobblestones, but to create a new road parallel to them. It is also noted that no alteration or damage should be caused to the World War II gun emplacement located on the side of the Agios Nikolaos – Elounda provincial road.
