HOTEL & GOLF RESORT, UNVEILS THE NEW COOEE CONCEPT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE HOTEL.

TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What is the new deal between the hotel and German company Rewe Touristik all about?

PANAYIOTIS MARKOU: The agreement to launch the new COOEE concept for Cyprus was made in 2015. [We were] approached by Rewe Touristik to be the first hotel in Cyprus to implement this new concept; with its unique location and design St. George Hotel fulfils the requirements of the consistent style of COOEE which evokes high brand recognition.

Originally, two hotels were scheduled for this summer – one on the west coast and one on the east coast – but eventually, only one launch will be materialised, this being COOEE St. George Hotel in Chloraka, Paphos.

TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What are the main changes for the property and how is the deal expected to boost the resort’s image in the local and international markets? Which will be the target segments after the reboot?

PANAYIOTIS MARKOU: COOEE is more than just a motif hotel. It reflects the lifestyle and beliefs of today’s generation. COOEE focusses on the modern needs of guests and satisfies the wishes of today’s customers.
Improvements will be made on culinary, service, connectivity and good feeling level. A unique innovation will be the COOEE Bistro, which is at the heart of the concept and is identified through a modern and unique design.

The COOEE service surprises guests with small goodies, enlightens their day and creates a ‘wow’ effect. The little surprises stay in the mind of the guests and show the interest and happiness of hotel members for having them as guests.

Our lives today are driven by connectivity. Wi-Fi is more important than sea view; therefore, connectivity must be available in all hotel areas, including the rooms, pool, restaurants and lobby.

This marks a tremendous part of the COOEE concept and is a decisive unique selling point.

One of the main goals is to make the COOEE guest feel comfortable and experience a relaxed and enjoyable time during their holidays.

Therefore, we want to stimulate this feeling by offering different feel-good opportunities such as diverse sport, wellness, and relax/chill-out possibilities offered throughout the hotel.

We expect to boost the resort’s image both in the local as well as the international market with a primary focus on the German-speaking segments, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Being COOEE is more than just becoming a motif hotel. It reflects the lifestyle and beliefs of today’s generation in a more than ever competitive tourism market and [those of an] increasingly demanding customer.

COOEE focusses on the modern needs of guests and satisfies the wants of today’s customers, and so do we.

TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What are the management’s immediate plans in order to introduce the changes?

PANAYIOTIS MARKOU: Most implementations will be fully ready by the start of the official summer season.

The public areas and room concept details required will be ready [soon], as well as the COOEE Bistro and Relax Chill Out Zone. The same applies for the immediate introduction of the consistent style of the COOEE which evokes the high brand recognition.

TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: How is the hotel aiming to compete with similar establishments in Paphos or in Cyprus following the rebrand?

PANAYIOTIS MARKOU: Currently, we see more and more of the trend to develop high brand recognition establishments establishments with various tour operators.

As mentioned earlier, the launch of two COOEE hotels was originally planned and only one will be implemented this summer.

Further expansion and implementation of this concept [in Cyprus will be] very limited. Our aim is to secure our position and market share in this new trend, which is becoming ever more important, by focussing on the modern needs of today’s customers.