Empiria Group: Pioneering Hospitality with Sustainability at its Core

Vedema, a Luxury Collection Hotel on Santorini – a member of the Empiria Group.

Empiria Group, a leading hospitality company in Greece, recently released its inaugural Impact Report, setting a benchmark for sustainability across its operations. The report underscores the group’s dedication to fostering positive social, environmental, and cultural impacts while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The annual report highlights Empiria’s progress in three strategic areas — social impact, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation — and outlines the group’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation.

Social Impact: Empowering employees

Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort on Paros – a member of the Empiria Group.

Empiria places its employees at the heart of its operations, prioritizing their well-being and development to address challenges in the hospitality sector. Key initiatives in 2023 improved work culture, strengthened team spirit, and fostered an inclusive environment. Results from an anonymous survey revealed:

• 48 percent of seasonal staff plan to return, reflecting the positive work environment.
• 63 percent of employees rated Empiria as “an employer that cares about its people”.

Istoria, a Member of Design Hotels on Santorini – a member of the Empiria Group.

“These results reaffirm our efforts to cultivate a supportive workplace that values personal and professional growth,” the group’s management said in an announcement.

Environmental Impact: Reducing plastic and conserving water

Empiria’s commitment to sustainability extends to reducing single-use plastics and conserving water resources. A partnership with the Swedish company Nordaq introduced advanced filtration systems in its hotels, enabling the elimination of single-use plastic water bottles.

• In 2023, plastic bottle usage was reduced by 29.52 percent, with a target of 70 percent reduction by 2024.
• By 2026, the group aims to completely phase out plastic bottles, further enhancing its eco-friendly practices.

Cultural Impact: Preserving the Cyclades’ heritage

Empiria Group collaborates with the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF).

Empiria’s collaboration with the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) demonstrates its dedication to cultural and natural heritage preservation. Recent initiatives include:

• Hosting CPF’s Islanders’ Forum at Parilio Hotel on Paros, gathering stakeholders to discuss sustainable development.
• Supporting Me & My Plastic, an educational program for children on plastic pollution, from 2021 to 2023.
• Co-organizing the Greening the Schools of Paros project, teaching biodiversity and gardening practices to elementary students.

Petra Farm, a family-run sustainable farm at the Parilio luxury hotel, a member of the Empiria Group.

Looking ahead, Empiria plans to enhance its monitoring framework and focus on cultural management in the Cyclades as a priority for 2024. The group’s vision emphasizes creating long-term benefits for employees, communities, and the environment.

The full report is available here.

Founded in 1989 by Antonis Iliopoulos and Kalia Konstantinidou, Empiria Group manages five-star hotels and luxury villas across Santorini, Paros, and the Peloponnese. Renowned for its commitment to excellence, the group continues to set industry standards in luxury hospitality.