As part of our employer branding strategy, we initiate collaborations with several partners. One of these is Vendôm, a network connecting selected professionals with luxury establishments.
As we are expected to participate in Vendôm’s International Luxury career fair, the network takes this opportunity to interview senior luxury professionals.
It would be considerably important to take part in this interview, which will focus on our properties and the expansion plans of the group, with the purpose of promoting our brand on their social media network and on www.vendomtalents.com, thus enhancing our visibility and allowing for a prominently significant communication of our presence during the 2nd edition of "Excellence by Vendôm".
Ventomtalents - Could you tell us a few words about your career path?
Antonis Avdelas - A MSc in International hospitality management at Oxford Brookes followed by a bachelor’s degree in tourism management and then straight on to becoming a reserve officer in the Greek Army. By then, I had already worked a year in shipping and completed an internship at Grecotel before leaving to Scotland for a year for my first commercial position. Later, I spent time with IHG in a Sales Supervisory role and after two years, I took over the lead commercial position in what was at the time Europe’s biggest Casino and Hotel. Sani Resort headhunted me 2 years later for a position as Director of Sales & Marketing. Since then, in sync with the Sani/Ikos dynamic development, I have seen my career going from strength to strength, up to the role of Chief S&M Officer for the Sani/Ikos Group. A career is like anything else; keep pursuing change, learn, build yourself up until you find what really fascinates you – and then start putting everything in it!
V. T. - What is the purpose of the Sani/Ikos Group’s development? Can you outline your brands?
A. A. - Our purpose is to generously serve every guest and create an unforgettable and unique holiday experience for all our visitors. The key to succeeding – and our major differentiator – is our people-centric approach. The strength of Sani/Ikos Group comes from our people and their passion for work, from the family element we have embedded in everything we do to the genuine care and respect for our guests, and to the top-quality services we offer.
In Sani/Ikos Group, we have established two powerful and unique brands. Sani Resort, a world-class luxury holiday destination in Halkidiki, Greece, is constantly enriching and upgrading its innovative services in a unique 1,000-acre nature reserve through significant partnerships. Ikos Resorts, our award-winning hotels in spectacular beachfront locations across the Mediterranean, have successfully introduced the luxury “all-inclusive” concept, combining real luxury with the power of all-inclusive in an innovative way. Our plan is to further expand this concept with the Ikos Villas, our first all-inclusive, 5-star villas for families and groups, planned to launch operations over the next period in Greece and Spain. Both Group brands are delivering exceptional guest satisfaction, with Ikos brand achieving a first-place ranking in TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice ‘Best All-Inclusive’ category for five consecutive years to 2022, and Sani Resort winning ‘World’s Leading Family & Beach Resort’, ‘World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort’ consecutively since 2019, and for the first time in 2022 ‘World’s Leading Cultural Destination Resort’ at World Travel Awards.
V. T. - How does the group make the difference within the resorts currently being developed, both in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic?
A. A. - First of all, our business model is different. Sani/Ikos Group is among the few hospitality groups across the region that are both owners, developers, and resort operators. At this point, we own and operate over 2,750 rooms and suites spread across 10 unique resorts in Greece and Spain, while more than 1,500 new rooms, suites and villas are due for launch from 2023 to 2025 via our ambitious expansion projects in Greece, Spain, and Portugal.
All these resorts are spread across spectacular beachfront locations, in unique natural environments with blue-flag beaches, pine forests and rich local ecosystems, that we are proud to support, protect and promote through our sustainability programs. Across all our resorts, we have developed world-class facilities and unique experiences for our guests. For example, Sani Resort is famous for the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, the football academy in association with Chelsea FCF, and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, as well as the two well-known institutions, the gastronomic celebration Sani Gourmet and the music-orientated Sani Festival. At Ikos Resorts, we never ease to be innovative. Through the Local Discovery programme, we offer our guests the Local Drive Adventure, Dine Out and Culture pass experiences, making it easier for them to explore local destinations in a sustainable manner.
Above all, as I mentioned previously, our key differentiator is our top-quality service and the personalised hospitality we offer. As you may know, the word for the famous Greek hospitality is philoxenia – an ancient Greek word, which literally means ‘friend to the stranger’. Philoxenia is what makes the difference at Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts.
V. T.- Can you describe your CSR approach?
A. A. - When it comes to sustainability, Sani/Ikos Group is a strong leader across the Mediterranean. Our award-winning sustainability programs, Sani Green and Ikos Green, focus on the sustainable operations of Sani Resort & Ikos Resorts, the protection of Mediterranean biodiversity and the support of local communities and economies. We have been the first in Greece to run 100% on renewables and we are working intensively towards achieving our net zero carbon target by 2030, meanwhile all our resorts will be plastic free and zero waste by the end of 2024. We are proud to be among the members of the United Nations Global Compact, pursuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
V. T. - In your view, what are the new post health crisis keys for luxury hospitality?
A. A.- During the covid period, there was an unprecedented demand for touchless and digital services. At the same time, we witnessed a rising need for personalised services and customised physical experiences, responding to a growing trend for meaningfulness and wellbeing. The challenge for hospitality businesses going forward is to incorporate digital technologies and features into their offering and daily operations, as well as to invest in designing unique physical experiences that will make their guests feel special, taken care of and connected.
V. T. - Some tips for future talents who would like to work in your role?
A. A. - Working in the hospitality sector is an exciting and never-ending journey. The industry is constantly evolving, consumer needs and expectations are changing, and technology is creating new realities. Stand still for a while and the developments will overtake you instantly. Think you ‘know it all’ or you ‘have conquered the top’ and you will find yourself outplaced. If you want to stay ahead, you need to keep yourself educated, connected and constantly curious. There isn’t only one way to succeed; everything is achievable with the right mix of skills and decision-making. For me, the right mix contains lots of passion for what you do, lifelong learning, and, above all, a great team by your side. People are the heart and soul of every successful organisation.
V. T. - A personal question: beyond the high-end hospitality and luxury of the destinations, what makes an unforgettable experience for you – both for the host and for your employees?
The right ingredients to create an unforgettable experience is the connection with the people and the staff, as well as the surrounding area – both the natural environment and the community. Human relationships and genuine service, which lead to a long-lasting connection, are always key in our business.
