A brace of hotels with blinding white exteriors that evoke age-old Aegean landscapes but inside feature coolly contemporary interiors are the latest Greek additions to the Leading Hotels of the World’s global portfolio.
Chromata Up-Style Hotel on Santorini and Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge on Mykonos are both preparing for a long and busy northern summer. Despite Greece’s economic doldrums, visitor numbers are on the rise, and travellers report highly competitive service in restaurants and hotels. Greece notched up 23.6 million tourists last year, and that figure is expected to nudge a record 25 million this year. Tourism has propped up the economy during its long-running economic crisis, contributing about 18 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Minimalist five-star Chromata, set in a cliff-face in the Santorini village of Imerovigli, has 25 rooms in classic Cycladic style and “balcony to the Aegean” sunset views. It joins its sister property Katikies in the LHW portfolio.
On Mykonos, the waters of Megali Ammos Bay are a stone’s throw from Bill & Coo’s 30 whitewashed, pared-back suites with balconies and poolside dining by chef Athinagoras Kostakos. Bill & Coo’s second property opened recently on a beach about 3.5 kilometres away from the parent property, a sweep of 15 spacious suites with uninterrupted views of Delos island.