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Yacht Charter Entrepreneur Prepares for Olympics
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Added: 01/13/2004
Type: Summary
Viewed: 1134 time(s)
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Yacht Charter Entrepreneur Prepares for Olympics
The late Telly Savalas was a famous Greek-American who immortalized the phrase, “who loves ya, baby?” Now, another prominent Greek-American has parlayed his love for Greece, including its rich and colorful culture and traditions, into a thriving yacht charter business within that diverse island nation.
Bill Lefakinis is owner of Valef Yachts, the well-known U.S. based yacht charter representative for Greece. He has rubbed shoulders with the elite of show business, politics, sports and business. Now, he is busily preparing his Greece yacht charter business for the 2004 Olympics.
"The 2004 Olympics presents an exciting opportunity to showcase the beauty that is Greece," Lefakinis says.
Bill Lefakinis has turned his love for the historic nation into a very profitable venture: Valef Yachts. Valef Yachts is one of the largest and most successful yacht chartering businesses for cruises in Greece. Based in the USA, the business started in 1969. The Valef Yacht charter fleet has now surpassed 400 yachts.
"Chartering a yacht in Greece is a unique way to enjoy the Athens 2004 Olympics," Lefakinis says. “Although Olympics-goers frequently seek out hotels, there are more interesting and enjoyable ways to see all that is Greece,” he says.
"Greece is a very hospitable and friendly nation,” Lefakinis notes. “Visiting Greece by chartered yacht also presents a memorable and unique way to enjoy the overall Olympics experience," Lefakinis adds.
Bill Lefakinis operates a very successful company with offices in the United States and Greece, representing more than four hundred yachts for charter in Greece.
He left Greece at the age of 13 for America. He won a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, served in the US Army and the Greek Air Force and later rose to the position of president of a large US company, Filtrine Manufacturing. He then returned to his native Greece in 1969. Lefakinis recognized early on that tourism was the number one industry in Greece and that yachting was pivotal within this industry.
”It is hard to imagine now, but in 1969 there were only 20 yachts for charter in Greece,” Bill says. “I realized the huge potential for Greece to become the yachting capital of the world.”
“There are 2000 Greek islands in the Aegean and lonian seas – many of them undiscovered and uncrowded,” Bill says. The lure, beauty and attraction of Greece has led Lefakinis and his business to befriend many celebrities. “The privacy of Valet charters, unavailable ashore, is a powerful attraction for celebrities seeking privacy and relaxation,” he says.
”Unlike a cruise ship, he observes, “charter yachts allows people to go at their own pace. They can change their itinerary with a lot of flexibility…daily, a few hours or even days extra in an exotic spot…or they can relax and let crew members cater to their every whim.” |
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