Santorini’s Santo Maris First to Get ‘Boutique Hotel’ Seal

Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa

Aiming to ensure that quality standards are met and to offer small hotel businesses the incentive to invest in excellence, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) announced the certification of the first hotel in Greece with the “Boutique Hotel” seal, with eight more units in line.

The 43-room, five-star Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, on the island of Santorini, is the country’s first boutique hotel to be awarded the seal.

According to the HCH, a number of small enterprises have already expressed interest in receiving the seal with eight currently in line and 43 in the process of certification through the chamber’s online application, www.boutique-hotel.gr.

Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa

“The HCH’s new initiative aims to showcase our country’s pioneering design and innovative hospitality services,” said Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) President Alexandros Vassilikos, adding that “the hospitality sector is today a rapidly evolving market where the challenge is to diversify the experience.”

“Through the design and implementation of the Boutique Hotel Certification System, the HCH is effectively contributing with its specialized know-how to the establishment of high added value products which can in turn be the remedy to the high seasonality of demand which has plagued the tourist product,” Vassilikos said.

Three-, four- and five-star hotel units with up to 60 rooms can apply for the Boutique Hotel Seal. Prerequisites for approval include boutique hotel concept as demonstrated through style, architectural design and interior decoration as well as upgraded fittings and services. The evaluation process is carried out in four phases.