User:GogouAnastasia/sandbox/Grecotel Hotels & Resorts

Grecotel Hotels & Resorts is the largest hotel chain in Greece. According to the Greek market statistics (ICAP's recent study, 2017), Grecotel S.A. ranks as no.1 Greek hotel group with 4% of  total 5-star and 4-star hotel turnover, as well as the largest share by number of rooms in the luxury hotels, 6,000, while employing 6,300 employees for season 2018.

Grecotel manages a collection of 32 luxury hotels & resorts all over Greece and is part of the N. Daskalantonakis Group of Companies, which includes among others city and resort affiliated hotels, the Agreco traditional farm in Rethymno, Agreco Farms authentic gourmet food products and selected organic delicacies as well as herbal body care products, and the Danilia traditional village and museum in Corfu. The Group consists of six distinctive collections – Exclusive Hotels & Resorts, LUX.ME Hotels & Resorts, Luxury Hotels & Resorts, Family Hotels & Resorts, Premium Hotels & Resorts and City Hotels.

History
According to Reuters and other sources, Grecotel was founded in the 1980s as a resort hotel management company by German tour operator TUI Group and the Cretan brothers Nikos and Takis Daskalantonakis. According to other sources, Grecotel was founded by German tour operator TUI Group in collaboration with Demetrios Pieridis in 1981. Immediately after, Nikos & Takis Daskalantonakis acquired 50% of the shares of Grecotel, from Dimitris Pieridis.

Currently (2019), in Grecotel, Chairman of the board is Mr Nikos Daskalantonakis, Deputy Chairman and CEO Mrs Mari Daskalantonaki and General Manager Mr Vassilis Minadakis.

Grecotel has grown to support 12 tourist destinations in Greece, Athens, Athens Riviera, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Halkidiki, Alexandroupolis, Peloponnese and Larisa in central Greece.

In 1991, Mr Nikos Daskalantonakis, Managing Director of Grecotel S.A., was voted by Thomson Tour Operations as "The Hotelier of the Year 1991" for his achievements in improving quality tourism in Greece.

In 1996, the Grecotel Privilege Club loyalty scheme was founded. Today (2019) it has over 500,000 members after being relaunched in 2015.

There has been a legal dispute between members of the Daskalantonakis family, however it has been unequivocally clear from all sides that Grecotel is not involved in any legal dispute and its management and shareholding has never been disputed.

Grecotel is considered amongst the factors that contributed decisively to the promotion of Rethymnon as well as of Crete.

Grecotel is the first Mediterranean hotel company with a professional Culture & Environment Department, having received funding from the European Union to implement the first-ever environmental audits in Mediterranean hotels.

In 2002, Agreco Farms, a Traditional Cretan Farm opened its gates in the village of Adele, near Rethymno. The farm was created by Nikos Daskalantonakis, as part of his vision of offering guests the best of Crete, his birthplace, and to encourage local farmers to use organic methods to grow produce for the area’s hotels. Agreco Farms covering 40 hectares, has developed a program to rescue rare local varieties and produce organic local products, all used at the Grecotel restaurants.

In the same year, Grecotel opened its representative office in Moscow.

In 2003, Grecotel realized an investment program of 40 million euros.

In 2004, Grecotel launches 10 new hotel units.

In the same year (2004), N. Daskalantonakis Group - Grecotel appointed as official caterers for the Athens Olympic Games Athletes Village, and its hotels became official members of the games hospitality network.

In 2007, Grecotel was awarded with 21 "Morpheus" awards to the Philoxenia Tourism Awards and received the Philoxenia Audience award.

In the same year (2007), Grecotel opened Amirandes Exclusive Resort in Crete which was created according to 6-star hotels international standards.

In 2009, Grecotel Creta Palace is remodeled. In 2013, Grecotel remodeled the El Greco Hotel, the current (2018) LUX ME White Palace, and the Greta Palace hotel.

In 2014, Grecotel opened a new 5-star property in Crete, The White Palace (the former El Greco), and the Pallas Athena Boutique Hotel in Athens.

In 2017, Agreco Farms e-shop was launched, and its products became available in the US market and were awarded with the Gold Packaging Innovation Award (for the popline series packaging of products launched in a new international market).

In 2018, Grecotel completed an investment project exceeding €42 million and creating 630 new jobs. Grecotel employs 6,300 people (2018).

In the end of 2019, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts manages 32 hotel units all over Greece: Amirandes, Astir Alexandroupolis, Grand Hotel Egnatia, Cape Sounio, Caramel, Marine Palace & Aqua Park, Casa Marina & Aqua Park, Corfu Imperial, Creta Palace, LUX.ME Daphnila Bay Dassia, Eva Palace, Filoxenia, Grand Leoniki Residence, Ilia Palms & Aqua Park, Kos Imperial Thalasso, Casa Marron, Larissa  Imperial, Mandola Rosa Suites & Villas, Meli  Palace, Mykonos Blu Villas, Μykonos Blu, Olympia Oasis & Aqua Park, La Riviera & Aqua Park, Pallas Athena, Margo Bay & Club Turquoise, Plaza Spa & Suites, Lux Me Rhodos, Royal Park, Villa Oliva, Vouliagmeni Suites, Lux Me White Palace, Riviera Olympia & Aqua Park

Awards & Recognitions
Commendation of Nikos Daskalantonakis by President Poutin, 2019

Commendation of Nikos Daskalantonakis by the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation, 2019

AgrecoFarms – award for business recognition based on constant and long-term contribution to the local development in 2019

Impact BITE Awards 2019 – Gold award for Grecotel in technology innovation in tourism

TUI Awards 2019


 * TUI award “Best Hotel Eastern Mediterranean” (Caramel)
 * TUI Holly 2019 (Caramel)
 * TUI Top Quality 2019 (Amirandes, Caramel, Corfu Imperial, Creta Palace, Lux Me White Palace, Lux Me Daphnila Bay Dassia)
 * TUI Umwelt Champion 2019 (Caramel, Creta Palace, Lux Me White Palace, Olympia Riviera & Aqua Park)
 * TUI Family Champion 2019 (Casa Marron, Club Marine Palace & Suites, Amirandes, Creta Palace, Olympia Riviera & Aqua Park, Lux Me White Palace, Lux Me Dapnila Bay Dassia)

Τourism Awards 2019 


 * Gold award - Grecotel for Gastronomy, The Wine Culture at Grecotel Hotels & Resorts

Greek Hospitality Awards 2019


 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Hotel Brand for Grecotel
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Beach Resort for Corfu Imperial
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Family Resort for Riviera Olympia & Aqua Park
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Excellence in Service Hotel & Resort for Amirandes
 * Silver Award in the category: Best Greek All-inclusive Resort for Casa Marron

TUI Awards 2018


 * TUI Holly 2018 (for Amirandes, Caramel)
 * TUI Top Quality 2018 (for Amirandes, Caramel, Corfu Imperial, Eva Palace)
 * TUI Umwelt Champion 2018 (for Amirandes, Caramel, Pella Beach, Kos Imperial Thalasso, Royal Park, White Palace, Creta Palace, Olympia Riviera & Aqua Park, Olympia Oasis, Eva Palace, Corfu Imperial)
 * TUI Family Champion 2018 (for Club Marine Palace, Olympia Oasis, Daphnila Bay Dassia)

Tourism Awards 2018


 * Guest Experience Award, Gold - Personalized & tailor-made experiences for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Digital Tourism Award, Gold - Digital presence & online communication for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Hotels & Resorts Award, Gold - Luxury hotel - resort for Corfu Imperial Grecotel Exclusive Resort, Grecotel S.A.
 * Gastronomy Award, Silver - Excellence & Innovation in the field of F&B, Hotels & Resorts
 * Digital Tourism Award, Silver - Social Media Strategy for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Branding, Public Relations, People Strategy Award, Silver - Content marketing strategy for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts

Social Media Awards 2018


 * Silver Award in the category: More Effective Use of Social Media in the Tourism Industry
 * Bronze Award in the category: More Effective Use of Instagram

Greek Hospitality Awards 2018


 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Beach Resort for Grecotel Riviera Olympia & Aqua Park
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Hotel Breakfast for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Sustainable Hotel for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Hotel Brand for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Gold Award in the category: Best Greek Innovation Hotel for Grecotel White Palace, Lux Me

World Travel Awards


 * Greece's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 - for Royal Blue Mansion at Mykonos Blu
 * Conde Nast Traveler 2018 Readers Choice Award - For Mykonos Blu in the 21st place of Best Resorts in Europe
 * Condé Nast Traveler 2017 Award – For Mykonos Blu - 2017 Reader's Choice Award and be recognised amongst the very best travel experiences in the world
 * Green Soap Certification for Pallas Athena, Larissa Imperial, Riviera Olympia & Aqua Park, Club Marine Palace & Suites, LUX ME White Palace

Greek Hospitality Awards 2017 Tourism Awards 2017 Creative Greece Awards 2017 by Active Business Publishing Grecotel: The top award for business excellence this year for the most outward-looking strategies and business practices in the Greek tourism sector
 * For Corfu Imperial Grecotel Exclusive Resort: Gold - Top Greek Hotel 2017
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - Best Greek Hotel and Resort Brand
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - Best Greek Dining Experience
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - Best Greek Hotel Tailor-Made Guest Experience
 * For White Palace: Gold - Best Greek All-Inclusive Resort
 * For Olympia Riviera Thalasso: Silver - Best Greek Beach Resort
 * For Corfu Imperial: Gold - Best Exclusive Resort
 * For Caramel Boutique Resort: Gold - Best Boutique Resort
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - Gastronomy Award for Excellence and Innovation in Food & Beverage
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - SEO for the Grecotel Mastering Top ranking in luxury
 * For Club Marine Palace: Silver - All-Inclusive Resort

Best “Greek Cuisine” Award 2017 - For "Xasteria" Cretan restaurant in Amirandes Grecotel Exclusive Resort in Crete

TUI Top Quality 2017 - Top 250 hotels worldwide based on the results of the guest surveys - Amirandes, Club Marine Palace & Suites, Caramel, Corfu Imperial, Eva Palace, Kos Imperial Thalasso

Packaging Innovation Gold Award 2017 – For Agreco Farms in Crete

Worldberry Awards 2017  - by TEZ Tours Vanity Fair UK – For Agreco Farm Taverna - Best Organic Restaurant
 * For Amirandes – Best Luxury Holiday for Families 5* Hotels Crete
 * For Caramel – Best Boutique Hotel Crete
 * For Club Marine Palace & Marine Palace Suites – Best Children Concept 4* Hotels Crete
 * For Daphnila Bay Thalasso – Best Overall Customer Satisfaction 4* Hotels Corfu
 * For Olympia Oasis – Best Overall Customer Satisfaction 4* Hotels Peloponnese
 * For Olympia Riviera Thalasso – Best Romantic Getaways 5* Hotels Peloponnese
 * For Pella Beach – Best Overall Customer Satisfaction 4*
 * For Rhodos Royal – Best Overall Customer Satisfaction 4* Hotels Rhodes

Travelife Gold Award  for Amirandes, Caramel, Creta Palace, Club Marine Palace, Corfu Imperial, Eva Palace, Kos Imperial Thalasso, Rhodos Royal, Olympia Riviera Thalasso, Olympia Oasis, Lakopetra Beach

Greek Hospitality Awards 2016 Tourism Gold Awards 2016 Tourism Silver Awards 2016 Social Media Awards 2016
 * For Nikos Daskalantonakis: Lifetime Award - Greek Hospitality Leader
 * For Grecotel Hotels & Resorts: Gold - Best Hotel & Resort Brand
 * For Amirandes: Gold - Top Hotel 2016
 * For Club Marine Palace: Gold - Best Greek All-Inclusive
 * For Olympia Riviera Resort: Gold - Best Family Resort
 * For Caramel Boutique Resort: Gold - Best Boutique Resort
 * For Cape Sounio: Gold - Best Hotel & Resort Dining Experience
 * For Amirandes: Gold - Best Excellence in Service Hotel & Resort
 * For Grecotel Privilege Club: Gold - Best Hotel & Resort Loyalty Programme
 * For Grecotel/40 Years Campaign: Gold - Hotel & Resort Marketing Strategy
 * For Grecotel: Silver - Best Sustainable Hotel & Resort
 * For Grecotel: Silver - Best Hotel & Resort Website
 * For Pallas Athena: Silver - Best Boutique Hotel
 * For Creta Palace: Silver - Best Beach Resort
 * For Club Marine Palace: Best Greek All-Inclusive
 * For Caramel Boutique Resort: Best Boutique Resort
 * For Cape Sounio: Best Hotel & Resort Dining Experience
 * For Amirandes: Best Excellence in Service Hotel & Resort
 * For Grecotel Privilege Club: Best Hotel & Resort Loyalty Program
 * For Amirandes: Hotel & Resort Restaurant
 * For Pallas Athena: Best Boutique Hotel
 * For Creta Palace: Best Beach Resort
 * For Caramel: All Suite Hotel
 * Platinum: Best Use of Social for a Brand, across all industries
 * Gold: Best Use of Social for a brand – Category: Travel
 * Silver: Best Use of Social for a brand – Category: Travel

Tourism Awards 2015
 * Cape Sounio: "Gastronomy Days", Silver
 * Grecotel & Globe One: "Cpc Campaign", Silver
 * Grecotel & M-Hospitality: "Mobile App", Silver

Blue Flags - 15 Blue Flags to Grecotel properties in 2015

Greek Hospitality Awards 2015


 * "Greek Hospitality Leader" for Nikos Daskalantonakis
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Brand for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Excellence In Service Hotel & Resort for Amirandes Exclusive Resort
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Loyalty Programme for Grecotel Hotels & Resorts
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek New Hotel Award for Grecotel Pallas Athena
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Landmark Hotel Award for Cape Sounio
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Lifestyle Hotel Award for Mykonos Blu
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek New Resort Award for Grecotel Caramel Luxury Boutique Resort
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Beach Resort Award for Amirandes Exclusive Resort
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek All Inclusive Resort Award for Grecotel Olympia Oasis
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Family Resort Award for Grecotel Creta Palace
 * Gold Award in the catecory: Best Greek Boutique Resort Award for Grecotel Caramel Luxury Boutique Resort
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Dining Experience for Cape Sounio
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Restaurant for Amirandes Exclusive Resort
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Conference Center for Grecotel Corfu Imperial
 * Silver Award in the catecory: Best Greek Hotel & Resort Spa for Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort

Finat International Label - Competition 2014 ‐ Highly Commended, Grecotel

The Green Key®
 * 2015: Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort
 * 2014: Creta Palace

e-Volution Awards - Grecotel & Globe One Digital, CPC Campaign, Recognising best practice in e-commerce

TÜV Austria Hellas - Agreco Farms, ISO 22000:05 certification, Preparation and Provision of Meals within the hotel: Grecotel Kos Imperial Thalasso, Meli Palace

We do local - Business certification for supporting local production, economy and human resources, for Grecotel White Palace

Tourism Awards 2014
 * "Excellence in Food" for Creta Palace
 * "Innovative restaurant concept" & "Unique Greek Example of Cretan Hospitality" for Agreco restaurant

Sustainability & CSR
Grecotel’s CSR program focuses on:
 * Waste management (solids & liquids)
 * Water and energy conservation
 * Supports the development of organic agriculture
 * Supports local community NGOs, cultural heritage and the local community

Since 2000, Grecotel has collaborated with ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, as several of its hotels & resorts share beachfront with the sea turtles, when it is breeding season. 

Grecotel has a long-term relationship with the archaeological site of ancient Eleutherna, nearby Rethymno, Crete, supporting the systematic excavations under the direction of Professor Nikos Stampolidis (Νικόλαος Σταμπολίδης) and sponsoring the establishment of the new Eleutherna Archaeological Museum in June 2016.

Grecotel Group has incorporated into the CSR program the cooperation along with the “Vision of Hope”, Association to inform on and become a volunteer Bone Marrow Donor. Grecotel employees from the headquarters as well as the staff of several hotels & resorts in Athens, Crete and Alexandroupolis have already become volunteer donors supporting this partnership.

On Tuesday May 30, 2017 at the N.J.V. Hotel. Athens Plaza, Nikos Daskalantonakis, President of the N.Daskalantonakis–Grecotel Group, was awarded by UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Association “Elpida” and “Vision of Hope”, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, for Grecotel’s commitment, efforts and contribution to the goals of the Association. .

Grecotel has collaborated with “Boroume” Organization by offering food to vulnerable groups such as nursing homes and orphanages.

In June 2017, Grecotel supported “Chatzikonsta Institution” («Ίδρυμα Γεωργ. & Αικ. Χατζηκώνστα»), offering a summer vacation to 30 children along with their teachers at the all-inclusive Grecotel Lakopetra Beach hotel in Peloponnese.

Since the ‘90s, Grecotel was the first hotel collection to establish a corporate Blood Donation Bank and ever after consistently support it with annual volunteer staff blood donation days per hotel.

Nikos Daskalantonakis created a Charitable and Cultural Non-Profit Organization “Nikos Daskalantonakis – NDF”, to support, in cooperation with Grecotel cultural actions, the new generation, the preservation of the authentic local tradition.

Sponsorships
Archaeological site of ancient Eleutherna

SOS Children's Village, Hosting at Lakopetra Beach Hotel

“AGAPI” Association, Rethymno, Crete

Make A Wish Hellas

Marketing Greece

Cretan Championship Free Wrestling

1st Nursing Workshop of the Hospital of Rethymno, October 2018

Russian Gastronomic Week at Cape Sounio

Greek Skate O.K.A Preveli, The Tour of Crete with Inline skating

Elliniki Etairia, Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage

Archelon, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece - Financial support for project on Crete

A FUTURE FOR TOGO

2nd Crete Ladies Open, 2013

Mykonos Run 2017 – Platinum Sponsor, Grecotel Mykonos Blu

Virtual Travel & Leisure Fair - Exhibitors Silver

Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall (1989-2004)

The Economist

Operation Management