Agios Nikolaos approves two Istron hotel projects, revises Blue Palace building permit

The Building Service of Agios Nikolaos has granted pre-approval for two new category-1 building permits covering tourist accommodation in the Istron area, within the Kalo Chorio municipal unit of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos. The decisions are part of five permit-related acts issued on October 15, 2026, according to a report by money-tourism.gr.

Both Istron pre-approvals name Macrame By Voulisma IKE as the project owner, holding lessee status over the land, according to the relevant documents. The report did not specify the scale or expected completion date of the two developments.

Permit revision for Plaka complex linked to Blue Palace

A separate decision revises the building permit for a composite tourist accommodation complex in Plaka, Elounda, owned by Phaea A.E. — the site associated with the Blue Palace resort. The revision adjusts an existing permit rather than authorizing new construction, the report said.

The wave of approvals reflects continued interest in upgrading and expanding accommodation across Crete, an area covered more broadly on places to stay in Crete.

Additional permits in Chania and Corfu

Of the five acts issued on October 15, four concern Crete, concentrated in Lasithi and Chania, while the fifth concerns the five-star Ikos Odisia resort in Corfu, money-tourism.gr reported. In Chania, authorities approved the conversion of an existing hotel unit into a four-star property. In Corfu, officials updated the building permit for Ikos Odisia.

The approvals come as hotel operators across Crete carry out renovation and expansion work between tourist seasons, a period during which some properties have turned to services such as temporary storage for hotels to manage construction logistics.