World Report

The exclusive conference centre at Creta Maris Hotel has been in the island’s limelight

ith its beautiful beaches, rugged mountain interior and mild climate, Crete, the largest and southern-most of the Greek islands, is perfect for sea, sun and family holidays.
The Maris Hotel Group operates seven properties on the island, all offering a high standard of service and a wide variety of facilities for holidaymakers and business travellers. The accommodation ranges from deluxe beachfront hotels to traditional-style village and hillside villa apartments.

“The Creta Maris Hotel, which was fully renovated in 2001, was the pilot for the development of quality tourism in Crete and became the starting point for the tourist development of the wider area by attracting tourists of a higher income level,” says Rose Metaxas (INTERVIEW), Marketing Director and daughter of the group’s founder Nicholaos Metaxas.
“The rest of the Maris hotels consolidated this reputation, which we endeavour to retain and improve every year,” says Ms Metaxas.

Rose Metaxas
Marketing Director of Maris Hotel Group
‘We changed Crete’s image to being more than sun and sea’

“The percentage of our repeaters is about 30 per cent and, as is obvious, out of a total of 3,096 beds this percentage is very high. These clients visit us every year. Our hotels are their home and Crete is their second homeland.”

One of the group’s largest investments is an 18 million-euro (£12 million) conference centre at Creta Maris. One of the largest of its kind in Greece, the centre caters for conferences and conventions of all sizes, comprising 68 conference halls, and capable of accommodating up to 5,000 delegates. Delegates can stay either at the Creta Maris or the adjacent Terra Maris.

“There was great excitement in the market when we first announced the news about the conference centre as many of the companies we cooperate with have markets for conferences that they would like to bring to Crete,” says Ms Metaxas “For the last three years since its completion, the centre has been highly successful.”
“What we have managed to do is to change Crete’s image to being that of more than just a holiday destination.”
Sports enthusiasts are also well provided for, with Maris hotels located close to both the Crete Golf Club and two private football pitches of international standards.

The Terra Maris hotel is only 5 minutes away from the golf course, and will remain open all year round; low season golfers have already made reservations.
The football pitches – ideal for amateur or professional training – are situated close to the village of Anopolis, just 20 minutes from Hersonissos where most of the Maris Hotels are situated.

The Maris group’s newest project is the establishment of an English-speaking hospitality school, which will commence operation in October. “We are always searching for something new and different,” says Ms Metaxas.