A History of Greece as the Yachting Capital of the Globe
In 1969 Expense Lefakinis a Greek birthed and also United States bred business person imagined a desire, which has since ended up being a reality - Greece, The Yachting Funding of the World.
Expense left Greece at the early age of 13 to seek a better life and also future for himself and also his family members. Costs attended the Hackley College and The College of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Company on complete scholarships and also served in the US Army as well as the Greek Air Pressure. Having worked and traveled extensively as President of Filtrine International Co., Costs ultimately returned to Greece in 1969 where he started his very own company, Valef Yachts.
At that time there were no marinas in Greece and just about 30 luxury yachts, 20 of which were for private usage. Its unique history, people, friendliness, 4,000 islands as well as 13,000 miles of seaside (two times that of the U.S.A. where only 18% was private yacht friendly compared to Greece's 99%) made it most suitable for the globe of luxury yacht chartering. Today, Greece has over 20,000 private yachts for charter as well as for exclusive usage, and over 50 marinas.
To accomplish this, together with Panos Tsafos, Expense founded and also presided over The Professional Private Yacht Owners Organization, came to be Assistant General of the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Organization as well as Consultants Association, and arranged the Organization of Greek Yacht Crews in order to coordinate efforts to improve luxury yacht chartering in Greece. He also began a magazine called "Sea and Yachting" to inform Greeks concerning the appeal of their islands, their prospective as well as the value of participating in salt water sports.
In his efforts to advertise Greece worldwide, Costs brought the Miss World Competition to Greece in 1973 (it was the first time they held the competition overseas); flicks James Bond in 1980 & 1983 and also The Greek Mogul; TV series The Love Watercraft in 1980, Heart to Heart, The Life Styles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach, The Night Magazine (which featured Greece for one entire week), The Arthur Frommer Show, Eyes on LA, Canadian and also Japanese Government tv; publications Playboy and Penthouse, Conde Nast's "The Tourist" and dozens of other global TELEVISION shows, movies and also magazines proceeding to the present. Internationally noted characters were offered Greece by Bill to advertise yacht. To call a few, Hugh Hefner and also little girl Christina, Bob Cuccione, John as well as Bo Derek, John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Christina Onassis, Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen, Patricia Gucci - stylist,
Claude Arpels - Van Cleef as well as Arpels jewelers,
Garavani Valentino - stylist, Max Fisher, John Clinton (Chairman of Dunhill and Rothman Team), Ernest Gallo, Giovanni-Yanelli of Fiat, Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Firm, Roger Smith, ex-CEO of General Motors, ex-Chairman of the Board of Intercontinental Hotels Corp. Mr. Hans Sternik, ex-German Head of state Richard Fon Weizsacker, internationally acclaimed cellist Mr. Rostropovich, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, John Denver, Kenny Rogers as well as Charlton Heston. He has been an expert to the Greek National Traveler Company, Greek Ministry of the Vendor Marine as well as participant of the Greek Government's Advisory Council for the Growth of Greece, yachting marinas, and the yacht infrastructure.
In 1978, with the significantly heavy air contamination in Athens as well as water contamination in the Hellenic Seas, Expense co-founded "PAKOE" (The Panhellenic Ecological Research study Structure) along with a group of volunteer researchers as well as medical professionals. As the Secretary General of the organization, he chartered airplanes as well as helicopters to take thousands of air samples by University and Federal government scientists (including reporters abroad) to assess the components for air pollution around the Castle, Athens also had numerous Valef Yachts with the same teams to test for water contamination in the seas. Yachts for sale All proof was confirmed by Federal government clinical research laboratories as well as independent research study centers. The high level of air pollution was commonly published with write-ups, pictures to all the media as well as complete records to the Greek Authorities consisting of the Head of state, Head Of State as well as all legislative members. As an issue of truth, pollution was the main topic for the following year's political election. Currently the Greek Seas are the cleanest in Europe according to the searchings for of the European Union and the air contamination has actually dropped drastically, the Parthenon is secured and also lots of laws have actually been made to safeguard the setting.
Kathy as well as Expense met in 1978 while she was taking a trip in Greece. Within months they were wed and moved to Greece where they cleared up as well as began working together.
In 1986 Costs, as Head Of State of Valef Yachts and President of the Private Yacht Owners Association, welcomed 200 American yacht brokers on 20 luxury yachts to "Discover the Yachting Globe of Greece." They went to lots of islands where mayors of the islands welcomed all with celebrations and celebrations and the popular Greek Easter was commemorated with the traditional roasted lamb on the fire as well as fantastic enjoyable was had by all.
Such effort results in a gratitude as well as understanding of a correct vacation. This has actually provided further understanding into the advancement of the supreme holiday trip that provides that deals with the customers every wish. The individual touch and also hands on method offered by the private yacht owners make hiring a luxury private yacht with Valef Yachts a real satisfaction.
