A shroud of mystery covers the case of the sudden sealing of the Olympic Hotel on June 18 at 1:00 PM, executed with the assistance of police forces. Most local media outlets in Kalymnos have reportedly been pressured into silence through intimidation tactics. One could speak of a media “omertà.”
There are many interested parties eyeing the hotel, which occupies a prime location on the island. Naturally, these parties would prefer the business to remain shut down in order to acquire the property at a fraction of its value.
For Kalymnos Times, this is not just a political and financial issue — it also has serious social implications. Twelve guests were abruptly thrown out onto the street, along with their belongings, and were forced to go to the police station to retrieve them. None of them will be returning to the island. The damage to the island’s reputation is inevitable.
The hotel staff also found themselves suddenly unemployed in the middle of the high tourist season — a time when it’s nearly impossible to find alternative work. Yet, no political group on the island, progressive or otherwise, has spoken out about this injustice. How will these newly unemployed individuals survive?
Adding to the scandal are rumors, reported by the news site www.protiekdosi.news, suggesting the existence of a mechanism within the Rhodes branch of the Hellenic Tourism Organization (EOT) that targets struggling hotels, acquires them, and resells them for profit.
The only clear fact is this: a fire safety inspection was conducted on May 27, 2025, which confirmed the hotel met all fire protection requirements. A certificate was issued on June 2, 2025. Yet, roughly two weeks later, the EOT sealed the hotel, allegedly due to a lack of fire safety certification.
The conclusions are yours to draw.
