MANNA Hotel Wins 5 Gold ‘Greek Hotel of the Year’ Awards

The 5-star retreat MANNA, located in the ancient fir forest of Mount Mainalo in the Peloponnese, won five gold distinctions at the Greek Hotel of the Year 2024 awards ceremony held recently in Athens.

Organized by Boussias Events, the Greek Hotel of the Year awards reward hotels offering luxury accommodation and unique stay experience.

“After 5 years of restoration and only 7 months of operation, the brand new MANNA has conquered the hearts of guests and judges, and is thrilled to announce that it has been unanimously selected as the Best New Hotel, Hideaway Retreat, Most Scenic Location, Best Design and Best Historic Hotel of Greece,” the company’s management said in an announcement.

The MANNA retreat won the gold award in the Historic Hotel category.

MANNA features 32 spacious room and suites created in perfect harmony with the fir forest and the pond that surrounds them. All the rooms and suites in MANNA exude the charm of the past and compose an environment, ideal for relaxation and inspiration, that frees the mind and the soul.

The hotel offers a range of wellness experiences, including a sauna, hammam, heated cave pool with a skylight, and a restaurant menu curated by award-winning chef Athinagoras Kostakos. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing, hiking, horse riding and biking trails into the fresh air.

MANNA is located at an altitude of 1200 meters in Arcadia surrounded by picturesque villages, rivers, and lakes. It is just just 2 hours away from Athens and only short drive from the town of Tripoli. The hotel is committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

A fascinating history

The MANNA retreat dates back to 1929 and is known as “The Sanatorium of Mana”. The building was named after Anna Mela, sister of the Macedonian hero Pavlos Melas, who was also the creator of the sanatorium. With aristocrat roots, Anna Mela dedicated her life and fortune to the treatment of wounded soldiers and patients with tuberculosis. Due to her absolute devotion to the patients, and her extensive charity, she was named as the “Soldier’s Mother” (mother – “mana” in Greek).

“Once a sanatorium for sufferers of tuberculosis, before lying derelict for decades, Manna now offers a slice of calm in the hills of Arcadia,” writes Conde Nast Traveller. “What hasn’t changed is how Manna still feels like place of healing.”

MANNA Arcadia is a member of Design Hotels, a global collection of independent, design-driven hotels. The independent Greek hospitality company Modus & Amplio runs the hotel’s management.