Industry talk with Kalia Konstantinidou, Kanava Hotels Greece

"Each of our houses is like our child"

Kalia Konstantinidou has built up the exclusive Kanava Hotel Group in the Cyclades together with her husband Antonis Eliopoulos. With a degree in Marketing, PR and Maritime Studies, the power woman is now dedicating herself to the hospitality industry. The latest hotel, Cosme A luxury Collection Resort, has just opened on Paros. CC reveals why Kalia puts her heart and soul into hosting and why the pandemic hasn't only had negative effects.

Interview: Simone Dressler

Over the last two decades, you and your husband have successfully built up the Kanava Hotels Collection on the islands of Santorini and Paros in Greece, even though you were not originally trained in the hospitality industry. What do you think is exciting about the hotel industry?

The hospitality industry is a fascinating industry. It offers us the opportunity to express ourselves by creating unique hotels that reflect the vibrancy and pulse of the Cyclades islands. Our properties are designed to offer the Greek essence of distinctive hospitality, encouraging guests to fully retreat and create their own story while embracing the authentic Cycladic lifestyle and light-heartedness of spirit. The opportunity to create moments that our guests will remember long after they have left is one of the most exciting aspects of being a hotelier.


Your first hotel Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, is located in a rather untouristy area of Santorini. How did you come to the conclusion that this would be attractive to visitors who normally like to stay near the caldera?

Vedema is integrated into the medieval village of Megalohori and offers the experience of a different Santorini, the authentic side of the island that we personally know and love but few people are aware of. My husband, who is a visionary by nature, foresaw that this other side of Santorini should be shared with discerning travelers who want to experience the island like the locals do. Vedema inspires guests to immerse themselves in the simple, slow life of Megalochori. We have long believed that discerning travelers seek this understated yet transformative luxury, and that is exactly what Vedema stands for.


Each of the Kanava hotels and villas seems to be very unique in terms of location and design. What do they have in common?

Each of our properties represents a part of our company DNA and ourselves - each is like our child with its own unique character and personality. The common element that binds our hotels and resorts together is respect for the local conditions of each destination. Our hotels and resorts respect the local architecture, traditions and rituals, are connected to the local community and offer guests the opportunity to do the same while enjoying upscale and sophisticated hospitality.


Post-pandemic, the needs of luxury travelers have shifted to more privacy, nature experiences and sustainable stays. What is Kanava Hotels & Resorts' response to this development?

We are very excited about this shift in travelers' preferences because this is exactly what we have been striving for since the day our company was founded. In our properties and through engagement with the surrounding communities, we are constantly championing initiatives and actions that promote the social and environmental wellbeing of our destinations.
Our connection to the local community is evident in the experiences we recommend to our guests, the local products we use in our restaurants, the local wines featured on our wine lists, and much more. We partner with local non-profit organizations such as the Cyclades Preservation Fund and numerous other organizations that support sustainable initiatives and work to preserve the beauty and natural value of the Cyclades Islands.


In 2019, you opened your first home on the island of Paros: Parilio, a member of Design Hotels. Paros is not yet a well-known island for luxury travelers in the German-speaking market. What inspired you to take this step?

Paros has always been one of the most popular islands for Greeks, as it is the epitome of a summer vacation destination in the heart of the Cyclades. The island is characterized by its exquisite natural beauty, rich history and culture, culinary traditions and a slower pace of life. Paros attracts travelers of all ages and backgrounds: Younger people come for the lively nightlife, surfers for the inviting waves, couples choose Paros as a romantic getaway with picturesque villages and bougainvillea-lined lanes, and families enjoy a relaxing vacation in the island's sheltered bays. This is also our personal story with Paros; we spent our vacations here as teenagers, but also later as a couple and over time as a family. For me, Paros is a cosmopolitan mosaic of local and international elements and people mingling in the picturesque alleys of the island villages and on the pristine beaches.


In June, you will open your third property on the island, Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort. Do you think Paros has the potential to become a popular destination for discerning travelers? Have you already considered the needs of travelers after the pandemic when building the hotel?

Paros is a relatively unexplored island compared to Santorini and Mykonos. Its exquisite natural beauty, rich culture and gastronomy have already made Paros one of the most well-known and up-and-coming destinations. Our personal love for this island and our belief in its great potential have led us to open our third property on the island: Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, which will open its doors in mid-June.
After the pandemic, the perception of luxury hospitality was linked to sustainability and a more mindful approach to travel - one of our company's values long before the pandemic; this is also reflected in the construction of Cosme. The architecture follows the traditional, centuries-old building principles of the Cyclades islands. Following this tradition is the most sustainable way of building - the amenities we know today did not exist all those years ago. For example, Cosme's design allows the breeze to enter the rooms and keep them cool, and the locally sourced materials protect against heat and sun - all of which contributes to a lower carbon footprint.
Cosme's design concept expresses a celebration of the joy of living and creates chance encounters, a space to roam and find meaningful moments to connect. The hotel is designed to open up possibilities and allow guests to express their individuality and choose how they want to connect, imagine and enjoy. From the restaurant to the lobby, from the 40 rooms to the plaza at the heart of the resort and the resort's wellness center, every aspect of our design and approach gives them the freedom to make the experience their own. Echoing the winding paths of Naoussa with its romantic, traditional narrow cobbled streets, tightly packed houses and beautiful little squares of Greek island towns, Cosme is a relaxed and open place where guests have the freedom to be who they want to be, to determine their journey or let their journey determine them.


While Santorini, where you run 3 houses, has been explored quite a bit, what activities would you recommend on the island of Paros?

There are so many beautiful things to see on Paros; the list is almost endless! The island's modern capital, Parikia, is full of stores, restaurants and cafés and boasts beautiful ancient ruins, such as the 13th century Frankish castle. Further inland is the mountain village of Lefkes, where the island's history seems to have stood still in time, with rickety tavernas, crooked houses and winding, marble-paved streets and alleyways that have all survived the centuries - and live on. The town's deep-rooted tradition of ceramic making brings to life a number of local workshops and studios; the studios of Todd Marshard and Alexandra Vaxevanisou are definitely worth a visit after enjoying a Greek coffee in the central square. Naoussa, the jewel among port towns and the undisputed center of lifestyle and nightlife on the island, just moments away from Cosme and Parilio, is bustling day and night. The many bars, tavernas and boutiques, the small churches, fishing boats and the lively main square offer plenty to discover. The pristine beaches of Paros with their turquoise blue waters should be on everyone's must-visit list in Paros! My favorites include Golden Beach for surfers, Kolympithres with its famous rocks for nature lovers, Laggeri for those who want to relax in the sun, and Kalogeros where you can scrape the clay off the rocks, add water and have a natural spa experience.


Are you considering moving Kanava Hotels & Resorts to other locations in Greece?

Yes, we are always looking for exciting destinations and new opportunities, especially in the Cyclades.


What are your expectations for the 2022 summer season? Will bookings at Kanava Hotels & Resorts reach 2019 figures?

Summer 2022 looks very promising. People are eager to travel and spend carefree moments under the sun with loved ones they can embrace and create memories with after a long time. According to the data we are currently seeing, we will reach and most likely exceed pre-pandemic booking numbers.