Much of the chat appears to be centring around who has managed to secure rooms at the coveted Astir Palace hotel complex in evening party venue and poolside networking location Vouliagmeni.

 Already some big name London-based brokers have had their room allocations axed and have had to seek alternative accommodation nearby, as news reached Posidonia-goers that the Arion Hotel would not be operational during that period.

The whole complex is being refurbished for the Olympics in August, and one recent visitor to the site just last week said another of the trio of hotels – the Nafsika - was “not yet in a state of completion.”

Others complain of vastly inflated prices in the range of close to EUR 600 ($711) per night. And there have even been rumblings of revolt and talk of teaming up to find another hotel venue next time around.

Companies have sent people down to Greece to sort out their bookings, and at least one large broking shop has hired a former employee to work on its arrangements for the big week full time.

Transport is also said to be more than usually tricky. The coastal road into Piraeus – notoriously bottlenecked – has been described as “impassable at any other time than around midnight.” A chance to get more familiar with the Metro system perhaps, which will be running as planned in time for the Games apparently?

'Big John' is pushing the boat out this year.
But this is just the boring logistics of the event – what about the parties?

The hot talk this year is that John Fredriksen is throwing his first ever Frontline party on Tuesday lunchtime at the Astir's Hotel Aphrodite. More recently Fredriksen has made what one broker described as “cameo appearances” at the big shipping events, but a reception is something new.

News has also reached TradeWinds that in a break with tradition and in addition to its Monday night soiree big name broker Clarkson has chartered what it terms “a hospitality yacht”, which will be moored off the Nafsika for the event.

Worryingly perhaps, in one of his first decisions as new managing director, Clarkson's Richard Fulford-Smith confirms that he has recruited retired company broker Roger Hadden to be stationed onboard as maitre d' and head barman.

A special welcome awaits all Clarkson's clients.
Fulford, who has christened the boat “Horace’s Bar”, says the notorious Melbourne-based Hadden will be attending as social and commercial Australian attache, being light on the commercial and heavy on the social. Lifeguards will be provided - apparently.

US-stocklisted tanker owner Stelmar has rather unusually opted for the British ambassador’s residence to hold a reception on Wednesday night, raising a few eyebrows as to why an ostensibly US concern is going Brit for the evening.

A veritable flood of other invites are already on the way from companies like Braemar Seascope, who are holding a Monday night bash, while oil and gas giant ExxonMobil is opting for a Wednesday lunchtime mingling.

Who needs a hotel room anyway?