Athenian Callirhoe Beats The Averages

The Athenian Callirhoe Exclusive Hotel’s front office staff don’t give a second thought to bending over backwards to assist hotel guests.

While luxury hotel units in the Athens area fight to keep their heads above water and keep above a 60% occupancy rate, the new kid on the block, The Athenian Callirhoe Exclusive Hotel, boasts rates above 75%.

The hotel’s owner, Vassilis Velanis, says the secret is service. “We are a small hotel out to build a big name.”
It’s true, the hotel is unique. Its ’boutique’ character is emphasized with interior design and color schemes second to none – even its Christmas holiday decorations permeate haute couture design. But the ultimate test to any hotel is a trip to lobby washrooms.

A wise and well seasoned travel writer once said “what you find in the washroom is indicative of what you’ll see throughout the entire hotel.” Well, the washrooms at the Callirhoe are exquisite. Not so much the design, although it is up-market, but rather the pristine cleanliness and exacting detail in construction. There are no sloppy white crack fill-ins here.

Elena Panagiotou, marketing and sales manager for The Athenian Callirhoe Exclusive Hotel, with communications specialist, Spiros Koufalis, during a recent working dinner for the press corps.

All of this perfection cost money, not to mention ‘meraki.’ In all, Mr. Velanis spent 11.8 million euros to create an exclusive unit that caters to the demanding guest. But investment does not stop with the 66 rooms, 16 executive rooms and three suites -not to mention a superb restaurant- of the Athenian Callirhoe. Mr. Velanis plans to create more business exclusive hotels in the area, and elsewhere, as well as some special resort units for year-round operation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Vellanis says that every customer that selects our exclusive hotel is like a lost brother home for a visit and must be treated as such. “Our people will create a personality file for each customer so that we will know his preferences and before he even sets foot in our door we will treat him better than any other hotel ever has,” he says.