In 1969 Bill Lefakinis a Greek born and United States bred businessman envisioned a dream, which has since become a reality - Greece, The Yachting Capital of the World.
In 1969 there were no marinas in Greece and only about 30 yachts, 20 of which were for private use. There was no national concept of the wealth Greece had to offer to the yachting world. Its unique history, civilization, hospitality, 4,000 islands and 13,000 miles of seashore (twice that of the USA where only 18% was yacht friendly compared to Greece's 99%) made it most ideal for the world of yacht chartering. After realizing the immense potential of Greek yachting, Bill went to work applying his know-how taken from his Greek and American business exposure. Valef began when four of Bill's friends let him charter their yachts and after almost forty years of constant work, marketing, public relations, pressure to the various Greek Governments to promote this unique tourist feature that is second to NONE, Bill's dedication finally paid off. Today, Greece has thousands yachts for charter and for private use, and over 50 marinas. Valef Yachts became a successful and trusted company with offices in the states and in Greece. Valef was created single-handedly from a vision which led to a revolution in the yachting world in Greece, the company motto since 1969 being, "Discover the Yachting World of Greece."
Bill and Kathy Lefakinis run the North American Headquarters in Pennsylvania USA which they established together in 1981, filling the need to establish a North and South American Headquarters for more direct contact and more efficient response and information for potential clients.
Alexandra and Kassandra Lefakinis, Kathy & Bill's two daughters, both passionately work in Greece where Valef Yachts has its roots; and continue to infuse fresh energy into their family business and one of the first names in Greek Yachting. Valef Yachts International attends hands-on to all of Valef charterers and is the contact point for all regions beyond the Americas.
Valef Yachts remains a company that continues to raise industry standards and client expectations while remaining firmly anchored in the ever-flourishing Greek yachting community.
More on noteable Valef activities throughout the years:
To build the yachting sector of Greece, Bill Lefakinis together with Panos Tsafos, Bill founded and presided over The Professional Yacht Owners Association, became Secretary General of the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association and Consultants Association, and organized the Association of Greek Yacht Crews in order to coordinate efforts to improve yacht chartering in Greece. He also started a magazine called "Sea and Yachting" to enlighten Greeks about the beauty of their islands, their potential as well as the importance of participating in seawater sports. He constantly wrote caustic articles addressed to the Greek Government regarding their apathy about improving conditions and laws to govern properly professional yachting in Greece. Bill also became co-publisher of the English Daily Newspaper "Athens Mirror," in 1971, became a member of the Foreign Press Association, The Greek Travel Agents Association, Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, Greek Ship owner's Club and many others.
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| Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association |
Greek National Tourist Organization |
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Kassandra Lefakinis at the
Las Vegas Luxury Expo, 2008 |
In efforts to promote Greece internationally, Valef brought the Miss Universe Contest to Greece in 1973 (it was the first time they held the competition overseas); movies James Bond in 1980 & 1983 and The Greek Tycoon; TV series The Love Boat in 1980, Heart to Heart, The Life Styles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach, The Evening Magazine (which featured Greece for one entire week), The Arthur Frommer Show, Eyes on LA, Canadian and Japanese Government television; magazines Playboy and Penthouse, Conde Nast's "The Traveler" and dozens of other international TV shows, movies and magazines continuing to the present. Internationally noted personalities were brought to Greece by Valef to promote yachting. To name a few, Hugh Hefner and daughter Christina, Bob Cuccione, John and Bo Derek, John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Christina Onassis, Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen, Patricia Gucci - fashion designer, Claude Arpels - Van Cleef and Arpels jewellers, Garavani Valentino - fashion designer, Max Fisher, John Clinton (Chairman of Dunhill and Rothman Group), Ernest Gallo, Giovanni-Yanelli of Fiat, Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Corporation, Roger Smith, ex-CEO of General Motors, ex-Chairman of the Board of Intercontinental Hotels Corp. Mr. Hans Sternik, ex-German President Richard Fon Weizsacker, internationally acclaimed cellist Mr. Rostropovich, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, John Denver, Kenny Rogers and Charlton Heston. Valef's Bill Lefakinis has been advisor to the Greek National Tourist Organization, Greek Ministry of the Merchant Marine and member of the Greek Government's Advisory Council for the Development of Greece, yachting marinas, and the yachting infrastructure.
In 1978, with the increasingly heavy air pollution in Athens and water pollution in the Hellenic Seas, Valef co-founded "PAKOE" (The Panhellenic Ecological Research Foundation) together with a group of volunteer scientists and doctors. As the Secretary General of the organization, Bill Lefakinis chartered airplanes and helicopters to take hundreds of air samples by University and Government scientists (including reporters abroad) to analyze the contents for air pollution around the Acropolis, Athens as well had several Valef Yachts with the same groups to test for water pollution in the seas. All evidence was confirmed by Government scientific laboratories and independent research centers. The high extent of pollution was widely published with articles, photos to all the media as well as full reports to the Greek Authorities including the President, Prime Minister and all parliamentary members. Pollution was the main subject for the next year's election. Now the Greek Seas are the cleanest in Europe according to the findings of the European Union and the air pollution has dropped dramatically, the Parthenon is protected and many laws have been made to protect the environment. |
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