Page 140 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2023

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
Influence

to be invited to open up their sleeping bags on private the Villa Collection, Utopia and Avaton and in 2022 From energy-efficient measures to eco-conscious waste
“It is this passion and love for hospitality terraces under the stars. So, with his burgeoning con- Panoptis Escape and their first beachfront resort, O’ By management, we adopt practices within our hotels that
Myconian Collection at Ornos Bay. Throughout this
tacts in trading and construction, George decided to
reflect our respect to nature creating an environment
that drives us to provide you with the best undertake a development of his own, seeing an oppor- time, the Collection never lost the sense of family and that not only delivers outstanding experiences but also
tunity to build the first hotel on Mykonos outside of
organic growth. Informed by the family’s managerial
ensures the longevity of the natural beauty that attracts
possible experience during your stay.” town. Marios Daktylides, the fourth and younger son of and operational philosophy, it pervades the relation- our valued guests like yourself” all four Daktylides
ships between the Daktylides family, the island and
George, recounts: “He came home one day on a Cater-
brothers confirm.
pillar that he’d picked up second-hand, and it remained the staff – and flows into guests’ experience of warm Nowadays, eleven years after stepping down as CEO,
Panos, Markos, Vangelis and Marios Daktylides his favourite set of wheels long after he could have any and personalized service, as well as the privileged re- their father, George Daktylides remains a busy man. His
car he wanted.” The well-worn but solid 920 four-cyl- lationships that discreetly open doors to the island’s way of relaxing is getting involved in the new projects,
inder diesel loader went on to dig the foundations of best suppliers and services. The family remains firmly as well as making sure that all nine grandchildren have
his first four hotels, starting with the 25-room Kohili rooted in Mykonos. Their children go to school on the a steady supply of “real” food. He does his rounds to
in 1979. Set high above town and looking directly onto island. And their dedication to give back to the island every home once a week in a Toyota Hilux, with trays
the seven famous 16th century windmills, the charming finds expression in environmental conservation ini- of farm eggs on the passenger seat and home-bred lamb
little hotel commanded sweeping views of the Aegean tiatives, local sourcing and consistent support to the and goat meat in the back, as well as cheese and cake
by day and the glittering spectacle of the town by night. Cycladic communities: Waste is recycled, worn linen made by Eleftheria. “As you see, I’ve got my retirement
Kohili was the first private hotel on Mykonos outside is donated to old age homes, prisons and monasteries sorted out”, says Vangelis. “And it’s a good thing that
Chora, and an instant hit, followed by Korali a year later in the Cyclades, seawater is desalinated. “We feel an we are four brothers, because our parents’ shoes are very
to double the room count. Their success was built on immense responsibility towards the environment and big to fill. Someone once asked me what advice our par-
the back of hard work. Eleftheria made breakfast for believe in the conservation of nature's pristine beauty. ents gave us along the way. My answer was short: they
all the guests and did the housekeeping and laundry, as We understand that the allure of Mykonos, with its led by example. In French, I believe there is a term for
well as providing meals for the 40 construction work- breathtaking landscapes and azure waters, lies in its it, 'l'éducation silencieuse.' We are each other’s most
ers who were busy erecting the new hotel. She was also untouched charm. Therefore, we strive to maintain a honest critic, and we are loyal allies. When we balance
raising four sons, and somehow still found the time to sustainable approach, minimizing our carbon footprint the pragmatic demands of a competitive business with
take her boys for a daily swim. “I can still smell the cake and actively participating in initiatives that aim to pro- deeply rooted emotions, we’re not just planning for
she baked for the hotel in our kitchen”, Vangelis recalls. tect and preserve the natural wonders that surround us. the financial year, but also for the next generation.”
“She gets emotional when we talk about those times...
My parents would sacrifice anything to create oppor-
tunities for us. Dad worked from morning to night THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIVE
and invested all the profits back into the business. My
mother had one good pair of Sunday shoes which she MYCONIAN FAMILY OF GEORGE DAKTYLIDES
would only wear before walking into church.". IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE ESSENCE OF
The personal touch and attention to detail that to
this day defines the Myconian Collection inspired a THE ISLAND SOUL.
loyal clientele and a reputation that spread by word of
mouth. Six years later, Kyma and Kalypso joined Kohili
and Korali to form what became known as K-Hotels.
In 1986, in anticipation of growing demand for luxu-
ry destinations, George purchased a plot on the south
coast, above the bay of Platys Gialos and built the island’s
first 5-star hotel, the Myconian Ambassador Relais &
Châteaux. “By then, my parents had realised that we
needed an education in international management”,
says Vangelis. All four sons attended in turn the pre- AMAZING
mier establishment of its kind, the world-renowned ADDITIONS
hotel school in Lausanne. “There was never a question At the Myconian
in our minds whether this was what we wanted to do." Collection, Panos,
CHRISTOS DRAZOS, SEBASTIAN CHLODNICKI the seaside beaches around the peninsula are the golden hospitality to divine
Markos, Vangelis and
Once all four brothers were back on the island, they were
Marios Daktylides
ready for a new challenge: the conquest of Elia Bay. If
have elevated
crown of Mykonos, few are said to gleam as brightly as
heights. In 2022,
the broad swathe of fine sand on the south side of the
they added to their
island. So, in securing the most scenic cliffs and gentle
luxury portfolio the
5-star O by Myconian
slope of fields that joined them with the ocean, the fam-
Collection at Ornos
ily acquired the perfect setting for the new stars in the
Bay and Panoptis
Myconian Collection’s luxury constellation: the 5-Star
Escape at Elia Beach
140 Royal in 2000 and the Imperial in 2002, followed by 141 (opposite page).