By Peter Oglos.
Ever had that dream of teaming up with your friends to kickstart a new, exciting business? Well, Greek Australians Lefkothea Georgantis, Helen Logas and Aphrodite Lambrou, turned that dream into a reality, creating a hotel on the beautiful Cycladic island of Milos.
The women have combined backgrounds in travel, hospitality and fashion, and have used their business experience to develop a new Greek paradise, the White Pebble Suites in Pollonia, Milos. Speaking to The Greek Herald, Lefka said the idea to build a hotel in Greece felt “crazy” seven years ago, but now is glad she went on this adventure.
“Whilst working for Olympic airways years ago at Sydney airport, I often asked the Olympic crew which was their favourite island and often enough they would say Milos,” Lefkothea said to The Greek Herald.
“I finally went to Milos in 2014 and fell in love. Two years later I returned to milos with my girlfriends, Helen and Aphrodite, on a yacht and they also fell in love and we discussed how there was very limited accommodation.”
“… And that maybe we should build a hotel, which was a wild crazy idea at the time, but our drive determination and passion had this dream realised.”
The hotel is a dream destination for weddings and honeymoons, offering the perfect backdrop for special occasions — from intimate weddings to anniversaries, milestone birthdays, or private parties. They also have a team of event planners that devise a one-of-a-kind itinerary, from banquets and beach barbeques, to sunset cruises and island-hopping adventures.
Helen was the previous owner of Travelcorp and Luxperience, while Aphrodite worked at the intercontinental, Qantas and Qatar airlines, and Lefka worked for Ansett, Olympic airways, and ‘Girls with Gems Boutique’ in Double Bay.
Lefkothea says what helped them most was the incredible team in Greece who supported their dream.
“From our real estate agent Thomai to our lawyer Lefkothea, our new friends in Milos who were willing to share information, architects Katerina and Marina from KKMK architects, our civil engineer Paris, famous Greek travel Instagrammer Katerina Katopis and not to mention the support of our family and friends.”
The hotel was designed by Athens-based KKMK Architects, with fluid interiors in polished cement, wood, and pale marble offer a modern interpretation of Cycladic minimalism. Pebble-shaped tables and curvaceous built-in furniture are inspired by the rippling limestone cliffs and organic architecture of Milos.
Personalised service and authentic experiences are at the heart of the White Pebble Suites ethos. The seasonal, modern Mediterranean menu is created by executive chef Vasileios Giannopoulos, a champion of Greek cuisine who sources ingredients from all over the Cyclades. Guests can enjoy restaurant-worthy room service, romantic poolside dining, spirited cocktails at the seaside bar, and tailor-made menus for private dining.
Lefkothea says the fact it’s a ‘Greek Australian hotel’ makes it unique in its own right and brings a new experience to the people of Greece, while simultaneously making Australians feel at home.
“Combining the best of both cultures into our ethos. Friendliness, passion, warmth, kindness and filotimo. We will be on the journey with our guests for their stay,” Lefka says.
“Take in every moment of your stay! Make every day count… When things don’t go according to plan, embrace the adventure and be spontaneous.”
