bluegr has Major Renovations Planned for its Hotels on Crete

Greek hotel chain bluegr Hotels and Resorts has embarked on a large-scale investment plan to upgrade its hotels on the Greek island of Crete.

Presented in Athens on Thursday, the plan has a heavy focus for the renovations to offer the best experiences to guests  and safeguard the environment.

Owned by Greek tourism entrepreneur Gina Mamidaki, bluegr’s portfolio includes three hotels on Crete – Minos Beach Art Hotel, Minos Palace Hotel & Suites and Candia Park Village – the boutique design hotel Life Gallery Athens in Ekali and the Sunprime Miramare Park Suites & Villas on Rhodes.

Minos Beach Art Hotel

Minos Beach Art Hotel

The first phase of bluegr’s investment plan sees the revamp of the historic Minos Beach Art Hotel. Already in progress, the renovation of the hotel will also include upgrades in its F&B department. Works are expected to be completed in 2023, the year the hotel will be counting 60 years of presence in the Greek hospitality industry.

Minos Palace Hotel & Suites

Minos Palace Hotel & Suites

The renovation works at the Minos Palace Hotel & Suites in Agios Nikolaos are expected to begin next year. According to the investment plan, the renovation of the Minos Palace Hotel & Suites will be wellness-oriented and have a strong focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of visitors. The revamp, which is expected to be completed in three years, will include the development of a 500 square-meter wellness revitalization center.

Candia Park Village

Candia Park Village

bluegr’s investment plan includes the upgrade of the Candia Park Village, which is located in Mirabello Bay, to a five-star resort. Renovations are scheduled to begin in 2024 and run until 2028. They foresee the addition of 100 rooms, 15 suites and the creation of a 1,000-square-meter museum for Eastern Crete within the premises.

bluegr’s investment plan began with a budget of some 10 million euros. However, as renovations proceed, the budget is expected to rise.

The vision: Offering excellent hospitality

Speaking during the presentation in Athens, bluegr Hotels and Resorts Business Development Officer Yota Dimitriou said that all of bluegr’s hotels have a common vision.

“That is to offer excellent hospitality, strive for sustainable development, care for the local community and inspire next generations,” Dimitriou said, adding that the hotel chain aims to “surprise guests” with personalized experiences offered in a sustainable, authentic and warm environment.

bluegr Hotels and Resorts CEO Gina Mamidaki (center) with the hotel chain’s business development officers, Yiota Dimitriou and Elena Michael. Photo © GTP

Moreover, Dimitriou said bluegr has adopted an environmental culture that runs through each of the chain’s hotels with a focus on sustainable development and supports the local community.

Indicatively, some 90 percent of the products served at the three hotels on Crete come from local producers.

bluegr’s approach to providing sustainable luxury services is summed up in the company’s “b-the Change” Corporate Social Responsibility four-prong strategy: b-Green, b-Active, b-Proud and b-the Future.

Regarding the environment, bluegr Hotels and Resorts has established the “green” agenda “b-Green!” regarding the consumption of resources and energy and introduces innovative solutions through “smart rooms”. The company’s CSR strategy includes responsible waste management, sustainable recycling and strategic water consumption management.

Pairing culture and hospitality

bluegr Hotels and Resorts also focuses on supporting and promoting cultural heritage through the Georgiou & Aristeas Mamidakis Foundation, which organises symposiums and exhibitions, supports modern art and carries out charity work.

The hotel chain also organizes volunteering and solidarity actions such as cleaning forest areas, beaches and seabeds and holds experiential activities for secondary school students and art festivals.

With regard to the 2022 tourism season, the management of bluegr Hotels and Resorts referred to “a good year” with its hotels on Crete seeing an average occupancy close to 80 percent. According to management, pre-bookings for the 2023 season are moving at good levels, unaffected for the time being by inflationary pressures and the increase in energy costs and basic goods.