The opening of the Costa Navarino Resort with Greece’s first integrated signature golf course will give the local economy in Messinia a much needed boost and increase employment in the area.
Costa Navarino is spread over 130 hectare of west facing coast line and rolling hills of the Messinian countryside. The resort centres round the luxury Romanou hotel, designed to look like a modern Nestor’s Place and the family-oriented Westin hotel, inspired by rustic Byzantine and Ottoman influences, which have over 700 rooms and suites between them. These hotels are already up and running and are proving to be popular with guests. In addition, the resort has a state of the art conference centre which has had back-to-back bookings since it opened.
The Dunes signature golf course is due to open to the public in July. It was designed by Bernard Langer the former US Masters Champion and Ryder Cup Captain in association with European Golf Design. Troon Golf Enterprise will be managing the 18 hole, 72 par course with its undulating greens, wide fairways, steep-faced pot bunkers and link element which make it so unique and playable.
The Costa Navarino’s Agora is designed to look like a traditional village and has entertainments such as an open-air cinema and a Greek amphitheatre as well as shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. Other facilities in the resort include tennis, squash and basketball courts, a football pitch, various water sports and a spa centre which add to the year-round activities for guests and tourist in the area.
The general manager, Enda Mullin said that when the resort reaches its peak it will employ about 900 people that have undergone intensive training programmes. The resort will bring new custom which will benefit the area of Messinia. Mullin affirms that the resort has been received extremely well; people are please with what they see and are looking forward to returning.
Navarino’s second golf course, near Pylos is due to open in the spring of 2011 and will stimulate growth in Messinia’s economy further still.