TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: How would you summarise this year so far?
OMIROS OMIROU: In continuation of our successful previous years, the current year has proven to be another year full of exciting challenges.
So far we are managing to achieve all our goals across each division; a success that would not have been possible without the valuable help and trust of the trade and of course our guests.
One of our main priorities as a company is guest satisfaction.
We believe that our main achievement for another year is the fact that we have managed this and gave our guests, staying in any of our Kanika hotels, a unique holiday experience.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Kanika Hotels’ portfolio currently includes Alexander The Great Beach Hotel, Paphos; Olympic Lagoon Resort, Paphos; Elias Beach Hotel, Limassol; Olympic Lagoon Resort, Ayia Napa and Olympic Bay, Ayia Napa. What attributes and concepts set these Kanika addresses apart from other properties within their respective categories?
OMIROS OMIROU: One of the main cornerstones of Kanika’s ongoing success is our human capital and their professionalism and guest service orientation.
The values of all of us working in Kanika are summed up in the Kanika SPIRIT which stands for service, professionalism, innovation, respect, integrity and teamwork.
This is an important attribute that distinguish our hotels from the competition.
Furthermore our strategic goal has always been to differentiate our product from the competition.
Kanika Hotels & Resorts is investing heavily every year in upgrading its hotel division by introducing innovative services and infrastructure, and by developing pioneering hotel concepts.
We would like to offer our guests something new and exciting every year in terms of services, quality, infrastructure or choice of outlets.
A small recent example is the fact that we have taken another step forward with our new culinary innovation programme that has already delivered the first delicious results […].
The programme was developed and is being implemented by Kanika’s culinary innovation and development team and Kanika’s award-winning chefs, in cooperation with consultant executive chef, Peter Gorton from the UK, a Michelin star holder with undisputed credentials.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Please tell us about your clientele. How much of your business comes from travel agencies/tour operators and groups?
OMIROS OMIROU: The majority of our business comes from travel agencies and tour operators and as mentioned above without the help and trust of the trade we would not be able to meet our targets.
The UK remains and will continue to be our main feeder market, however, over the years we have successfully promoted and introduced our hotels in other markets as well, mainly in continental Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the neighbouring Middle East.
The availability of flights from these markets helped us to see growth from these markets in the last few years, which is very exciting. […]
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Seasonality has long been one of the most pressing issues of the Cypriot tourism industry. What is Kanika Hotels’ strategy during the winter months?
OMIROS OMIROU: Indeed the seasonality in the tourism industry has always been an issue for discussion and this despite the fact that Cyprus offers all the key elements which could establish the island as a perfect winter destination.
[…] In addition to this Cyprus offers a wide range of activities that can keep a traveller busy throughout the year.
Kanika hotels have always given emphasis to the winter months and invested in promoting and educating potential travellers in regards to all the benefits the island offers.
In addition to this, we have given emphasis to targeting potential special interest groups like golf, conferences and incentives that can assist our occupancies during the winter months.
We do see results from these efforts and with the availability of winter flights, we have managed to keep three of our hotels operating normally during the winter period.
Alexander the Great in Paphos and Elias Beach Hotel in Limassol remain open throughout the year whereas our Olympic Lagoon Paphos operates almost 10 months every year.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What can guests and partners expect in the coming months?
OMIROS OMIROU: In this anniversary year, when Kanika Group is also celebrating its 40th anniversary, we are excited to announce the development of a new luxury five-star, adults-oriented hotel which will be located on one of the most exclusive seafront sites in Cyprus, adjacent to our Alexander the Great Beach Hotel in Paphos.
Its completion is anticipated for 2019.
Furthermore our plans include the full renovation and addition of facilities in our well-established Olympic Lagoon Resort in Ayia Napa.
This is expected to take place during winter 2017/2018 with the hotel operating fully renovated by summer 2018. […]
