By Sophie Raymond, UJV Advisor
When Anastasios, the hotel group sales executive told us the story of this Greek family, during the welcome dinner on our first night, I immediately understood that this stay was going to be unforgettable!
Authenticity, human warmth, classy and refined sums up my Myconian experience. The emotion I felt as soon as I arrived will remain etched forever, this Greek hospitality charmed me from start to finish.
George Daktylides and his wife, parents of four boys, built, in 1979, the first of 11 hotels to date. As in many stories, success did not come alone. Daily hard work, the involvement of the whole family, including George’s wife and four young children, have contributed to the rise of THE LEADING LUXURY HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE ON MYKONOS
Today the four boys manage these hotels and are also very present on site, at events and trade shows. I also had the chance to meet Vangelis Daktylides last year at the prestigious ILTM show in Cannes.
This time, Vangelis took the time to come and greet us during our visit to the Ambassador, one of their three Relais & Chateaux hotels. He told us many anecdotes and stories that have shaped Myconian Collections into iconic luxury hotels in Mykonos.
The Myconian Collection is a group of 11 leading luxury hotels on Mykonos, including three Relais & Châteaux, two Leading Hotels of the World, two Design Hotels and two Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
We had the chance to visit each hotel and they are all so different and caters to all types of customers.
Whether for families, couples, groups or solo travelers, there is something for everyone.
The Myconian collection is also so well distributed on the island of Mykonos, that one can combine a stay at the magnificent Elia Beach and a few nights in Mykonos Town near the trendy and iconic beach clubs or away from the island’s party pulse steps from the fine sands of Platis Gialos. Myconian has it all.
Our group of travel advisors stayed a Myconian Villa on Elia Beach, we spent 5 nights in this stunning luxury resort. We all had spacious luxury rooms overlooking the Aegan Sea. Some had private Jacuzzis or saltwater infinity pools. They are also available in one- or two-bedroom suites ideally suited to couples, families and friends traveling as a group.
The experience was amazing thanks to all the employees we met, from the restaurant to the person at the bar, from the pool boy to the many employees at the bar, there was always a person who ensured our well-being.
The service was exceptional, as for example, I remember a time when a person in our group had a slight discomfort in one eye and Christo, a hotel employee immediately went to get drops to soothe him from his suffering. Attention to detail is omnipresent!!
How to describe an unforgettable stay without highlighting the Greek cuisine recognized worldwide for its nutritional values. It is based on sharing, conviviality, typical values of the Greek people. We had the chance to taste several authentic dishes and wines to the delight of our taste buds.
One evening, Kyrillos, Operations Manager at Myconian O, invited us to the restaurant of the Myconian Royal Hotel and reserved for us a surprise that the whole group loved and is not ready to forget: Breaking dishes!! Towards the end of the meal, one of our waiters brought us clay plates that we happily threw on the floor to break it. The Greek tradition of breaking dishes is one of the most striking. This is done during large celebrations such as weddings and birthdays, and to express joy. It was a defining moment and an unforgettable experience.
I highly recommend these exceptional hotels and for all the reasons mentioned here and even more.
Do not hesitate to offer them to your clients, each one of these hotels retains its own distinctive personality, a diverse range of accommodations and entertainment option.
George Daktylides truly built a hospitality empire, which includes eleven of the leading luxury hotels on the island.