The Hellenic Center for Excellence in Health & Wellness Inc or “Hellenic Center of Excellence” was incorporated as a Delaware (USA), non-profit entity since 2023. The Center’s core mission is to promote activities that advance the wider acceptance of healthier food/dietary/lifestyle choices inspired by the traditional Diet and Lifestyle of Greece (and similar Mediterranean locations) or otherwise shown to be beneficial by scientific evidence. The Center is advised by many world-renowned figures in academia, gastronomy and innovation.

The HCE is a legally incorporated Delaware non-profit (IRS 501 c 3 status pending). The board of directors governs the corporation and is informed by three advisory boards (1.scientific/academic, 2.agriculture/culinary and 3.business/innovation). Our advisors are all “thought-leaders” and include world-renown professors, acclaimed figures in gastronomy/hospitality, and leading entrepreneurs/business people & innovators.

The HCE promotes activities that advance the wider acceptance of healthier food/dietary/lifestyle choices inspired by the traditional Diet and Lifestyle of Greece (and similar Mediterranean locations) or otherwise shown to be beneficial by scientific evidence.

In line with the above, the HCE organizes “hands-on, experiential” international conferences in Greece through a non-binding agreement with Grecotel Hotels & Resorts. Grecotel is Greece’s pre-eminent luxury hotel chain with “40 properties sprawling across the most coveted spots in 15 Greek destinations…” (e.g. Athens, Sounion, Crete, Corfu, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, etc.)

Historical Development & Progress of the HCE

1. July 2021 – Meeting in Rethymno with Mayor Marinakis regarding the idea of a Center with a Greek focus of activities in Crete. Recommendation to seek collaboration with Grecotel.
2. September 2021 – Discussions between Dr. Kales (HCE) and Mr. Demetrios Kalaitzidakis (GRECOTEL) begin to formulate a non-binding framework for initial steps.
3. December 2021 – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed by the Hellenic Center and Nikos Daskalantonakis Group/ Grecotel.
4. March 2022 – meetings with the Greek Minister of Tourism in Athens. Further meetings in Crete with the Governor of the Region and President of the Travel and Tourism Operators. All pledge initial support for the initiative, including #5 and 6 below.
5. May 2022 – Official Announcement of the Hellenic Center’s Founding in Rome at the Pontifical Scientific Academy of the Vatican. This statement takes place in the context of a closed “Thought Leaders” symposium hosted by the Pontifical Academy, which is dedicated to Olive Oil and Mediterranean Diet, where Dr. Kales is also a speaker.
6. May 2022 – The HCE brings 15 distinguished speakers from the Vatican congress for a “proof of concept” experiential tour in Crete under the generous aegis of GNTO, the Region of Crete and the Cretan Tour Operators, hosted by Grecotel.
7. November 2022 – The first international “Cretan Lifestyle Conference” held at GRECOTEL (Caramel & Creta Palace) in Rethymno.  Guests from beyond Crete include about 75 persons from 10 countries, and more than 100 persons total.   
8. Dec. 2022 to June 2023 – various cultural and educational events are held in the US to Greece as the birthplace of the healthy “Mediterranean Diet” (UMASS Amhearst, UMASS Club, Yale, Hellenic College & Harvard.
9. April 2023 – The HCE is presented an acclaimed "BOUSSIAS Tourism Awards".
10. May 2023 – Legal incorporation of HCE as a non-profit, Delaware exempt corporation.
11.  November 2023 – The 2nd International Cretan Lifestyle Conference is successfully held in Rethymno as co-organized by the Center, the Region of Crete and GRECOTEL, hosting around 150 guests from about 15 countries and four continents. Roughly 200 persons take part all together under the aegis of the GNTO, Ministries of Tourism and, Rural Development and Food, as well as with support of Greek and International sponsors.
12. Jan. 2024-Oct. 2024 – Promotional and educational events/lectures in various US, Spanish and Greek locations promoting the HCE and our international conferences. 
13.  November 2024 – The 3rd International Cretan Lifestyle Conference is in the UNESCO Gastronomical City of Heraklion at the GRCEOTEL Amirandes Resort. All six continents are represented. In addition to state of the art academic sessions and great immersion experiences, the conference is blessed by his Beatitude THEODOROS II Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria & all Africa. US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis also  gives a personally inspiring speech.
14. The 4th International Conference, Lifestyle Medicine: Hippocratic Tradition & Modern Applications is announced for KOS, Greece Oct 29 -Nov 3, 2025. Prof. George Chrousos, the world’s foremost expert on stress and holder of many professorships and Athens Academy member will keynote.