Grecotel Founder Honored for Contribution to Greek Hospitality

Grecotel Group President and Founder Nikos Daskalantonakis accepting his award. Photo source: Grecotel

Grecotel Group President and Founder Nikos Daskalantonakis was honored this week for his valued contribution to Greek hospitality and tourism during a special event at the War Museum in Athens.

Organized by the Municipality of Agiou Vasileiou in Rethymno, Crete, which is Daskalantonakis’ homeland, the ceremony paid tribute to Grecotel’s president for his commitment to excellence, perseverance, and innovative vision.

“Nikos Daskalantonakis is a charismatic businessman who has left an indelible mark on Greek tourism and entrepreneurship,” said Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

The minister referred to Daskalantonakis winning motto: “We welcome guests to our hotel as if they were guests in our homes.”

“Nikos Daskalantonakis is a bright example of an entrepreneur who managed to innovate and conquer the world,” she said.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni congratulating Grecotel Group President and Founder Nikos Daskalantonakis. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Founded in 1975 as a hotel in Rethymno, Grecotel evolved into the country’s largest hospitality group with 40 luxury hotels and 17,000 beds in Athens, Sounio, Crete (Rethymno, Heraklion and Lassithi), Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Mykonos, Ilia, Achaia, Larissa, Kalamata and Alexandroupoli.

The award-winning company employees more than 6,500 people. Each year, Grecotel hotels host some 380,000 visitors from 180 countries accounting for 2.1 million over-night stays in Greece. In Rethymno alone each year, Grecotel’s hotels accommodates 85,000 guests (620,000 overnight stays).

With over 2,000 international awards and distinctions, Grecotel is also recognized as one of the most dynamic Greek companies, a hospitality leader that introduced the concept of family holidays to Greece.

The group has been commended for its business development initiatives, quality of services, customer satisfaction, contribution to the international visibility of Greece, social actions and environmental protection initiatives.