Andreas A. Andreadis: Let’s make Greece the No. 1 service provider country in the world
SANI/IKOS GROUP
The impressive management of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the personal and effective involvement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have created considerable opportunities in the dynamics of the Greek tourism industry. What is key now is the organized management of arrivals and the faithful implementation of health protocols at destinations and hotels. How well the industry keeps infections to a minimum while offering quality services will be decisive in how Greek tourism will perform, not only in 2020, but also in the years ahead.
It is true that we have already lost three months of the seven-month operating period for seasonal properties, while July is expected to be a start-up month, with very low occupancy rates and air arrivals. If developments are positive, we can expect arrivals from August to October to reach up to 50 percent of the same period last year, which would mean a year-on-year reduction in revenue of 75 percent. Year-round hotels may reduce their losses to 50 percent due to the first and last two months of the year, but at a higher cost.
Realistic targets
The main goal for this year is obviously not financial results – this year is all but lost – but offering visitors an experience of quality and safety, preserving and creating jobs, and being willing to invest in the day after the pandemic, thus laying solid foundations.
For example, at Sani/Ikos Group the #OnlyatSani and Infinite Care protocols were designed in collaboration with the Bioiatriki Group and Ecolab and certified with the Covid Shield Certificate of TUV Austria, which is the first integrated certification scheme to reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus via the systematic implementation of appropriate hygiene protocols and processes related to infrastructure, equipment and staff at the Group. In addition, optional, world-class measures for increased safety have been introduced, including molecular Covid-19 testing for all employees before the opening and periodically during the operation of the hotels, as well rapid antibody or molecular COVID-19 testing for all visitors. At the same time, we have organized suitable accommodation for guests and their families who test positive for the virus, while insurance packages against such risks have also been created for our visitors.
Multilayered model
of development
I remain very optimistic about the future of Greek tourism. I notice that the pandemic brought to the fore antiquated views, such as that tourism cannot be the future of the country. Indeed, a more balanced, multilayered model of development is necessary, but I should also remind everyone how tourism saved our country in the past decade. Greece is and will remain a service provider country and must become No. 1 in the world. The pandemic can be the catalyst for our country and its services to leap forward to a more contemporary, more quality-focused, more environmentally friendly future.
THE COMPANY AT A GLANCE
SANI/IKOS Group through its brands, SANI RESORT & IKOS RESORTS operates nine unique and privately-owned resorts in Halkidiki, Corfu & Kos islands in Greece.
The Group develops the above commercial brands in Greece and abroad through the Luxembourg-based LBRI Group, established in 2016. LBRI is managed by Stavros Andreadis, Andreas A. Andreadis and Mathieu Guillemin, as co-managing partners, and has as main shareholders Stavros and Andreas Andreadis, Mathieu Guillemin, Oaktree Capital Management LP, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Hermes GPE and other investment funds.
