-Honoring the past, shaping the future
Fifty years of history, innovation, and authentic Cretan spirit are being celebrated this year by the Metaxa Hospitality Group, a Group that has changed the map of Greek tourism and continues to inspire with its new philosophy: “regenerative hospitality”.
This year’s anniversary is not just a celebration – it is the beginning of a new cycle of responsibility, sustainability, and regeneration, where hospitality meets agriculture and tourism gains a substantial environmental and social footprint.
The event was attended by all the people of the tourism industry in Crete, regional governor Stavros Arnaoutsakis, mayors from every corner of the island, dozens of hoteliers, entrepreneurs, people from the tourism and market industries. Among them was Mari Daskalantonaki, representative of another historic family of Greek hospitality, in an evening that united the old with the new, business with humanity.
From Creta Maris to the vision of the future
In 1975, Nikolaos and Theano Metaxa founded Creta Maris, the first five-star hotel in Crete, in Hersonissos, with services for the whole family and a focus on people and the local area.
“He wanted to create a miniature of Crete,” recalls Andreas Metaxas, CEO of the Group, adding, “A hotel that smells of jasmine, thyme, and hospitality.” And as the late Nikolaos Metaxas once said to his wife, “every garden will have the plants that every Cretan house has”!
Since then, the Group has evolved into a modern, internationally recognized force in tourism, investing in authenticity and a connection with nature.
“Hospitality is a journey that began with a dream and continues with humility and love for the place”
Andreas Metaxas, CEO of Metaxa Hospitality Group
The new era of “regenerative hospitality”
Andreas Metaxas’ vision for the next 50 years was presented on October 10, 2025, at the Mikis Theodorakis Convention Center of Creta Maris, with the slogan “Honoring the past, shaping the future.”
He described the transition from sustainability to regeneration, through a profound change in philosophy:
“The planet doesn’t need maintenance. It needs regeneration.”
Regenerative hospitality, which stems from regenerative agriculture, connects land, food, and hospitality into a single system for the first time.
It starts with restoring the health of the soil and ends up on the guest’s plate, offering food, experience, and responsibility.
Regenerative agriculture in practice
Metaxa Hospitality Group implements regenerative landscape management practices, certified according to the EU Regulation 2018/848 on Organic Agriculture, on approximately 2,000 acres of land — one of the largest areas in Europe operating under such standards.
In just two years, the Group:
- Regenerated 40 acres of agricultural land.
- Absorbed 50 tons of organic fruits and vegetables.
- It has been certified according to the international standard For All – Organic Active Action, achieving a first for the Greek hotel industry.
In nature, everything begins and ends in the soil.
If you take care of it, it regenerates — just like hospitality.
Alliance with the people of Lasithi Plateau
The initiative is expanding to collaborations with producers in the Lasithi Plateau, who are being trained by agronomists in the principles of organic-regenerative agriculture. The Group guarantees their income with a contract, supporting the transition to a new, more sustainable production model. “The producers are enthusiastic,” notes Mr. Metaxas. “The 40 acres will become 400. We want Crete to become a global example of regenerative agriculture and hospitality.”
Local value, global footprint
The social and economic contribution of the Group is equally decisive:
- 90% of the suppliers are domestic,
- 80% of the employees come from the local community, while each action is part of an overall sustainability strategy, the goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 42% by 2030.
Through the “Sustainable Hotel Agriculture” program, 75 species of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs are grown in hotel gardens, with 6.8 tons of production in 2024, certified by DIO with the O.R.A. standard – another first for Greek tourism.
Investments & Future Steps
- Renovation of the Creta Maris Resort – A new era for Cretan hospitality.
- Cape Tholos Investment, Kavousi Ierapetra – Regenerative resort in pristine nature.
- Five-year digital transformation program – Innovation at every level of operation
Strong growth and sustainable profitability
“Regenerative hospitality” proves that responsibility and profitability can coexist. In 2024, the Metaxa Hospitality Group re-entered the market with a strong presence after the pandemic, recording:
- EBITDA: €17.1 million (up from €7.78 million in 2023)
- Net Income: €3.43 million (vs. €624,000 in losses)
- Revenue: €61.1 million (+19.6%)
-Creta Maris Resort: 36.4 million euros
-Candia Maris: 12.1 million euros
– Santo Maris Collection: 12.3 million euros
Hospitality as an act of responsibility
In the conclusion of his speech, Andreas Metaxas quoted the words of Nikos Kazantzakis: “Love responsibility. Say: I alone will save the world. If it is lost, I will be to blame.”
With these words, he marked the 50th anniversary of the Metaxa Hospitality Group, a Group that remains true to the vision of its founders, highlighting hospitality as a catalyst for the regeneration of the land and society.
