The Greek hospitality brand is set to open a new hotel in Paros, marking the sixth addition to its portfolio of luxury properties in the Cyclades.
The Greek resort company has been a staple of hospitality in Oia since 1985, when its founders, Ioannis and Anna Chaidemenos, began a labourious journey to transform two 17th century caves into boutique hotel rooms.
It has since grown into a portfolio of five properties: Canaves Oia Suites, Canaves Epitome, Canaves Elefas Villas, the Canaves Sunday, and the recently renovated Canaves Ena. Confident in its reputation on Santorini as a leading luxury supplier, Canaves has now announced Paros as the destination for its first property away from its homeland.
“There’s no hotel in Paros that’s on the level of the best Santorini and Mykonos ones,” Chaidemenos says. “We want to be that hotel for Paros. We’ve always offered our guests the experience of Santorini through what we know about the destination, and it will be the same thing for our Paros hotel.” He also says that Canaves is attracted to Paros’ relaxed vibe, which is largely owed to its lower rates of tourism.
“It’s small, authentic, and has a beautiful town called Naousa, which is like a miniature of Mykonos,” Chaidemenos explains. Its central location is also a plus; Paros is located in the heart of the Cycladic islands, making it a convenient base from which to explore the rest of the archipelago.
Despite his enthusiasm to bring Canaves to Paros, Chaidemenos remains loyal to his origins. “I don’t think there is a second Santorini – it will always be the crown jewel of the collection,” he says.
Chaidemenos also addresses the issue of overtourism in Santorini, in light of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ recent proposal to introduce a cap to the number of cruise ship passengers visiting the island every year.
“Of course, there are areas on the island that can be very busy at specific times of the day,” he says. “But a number of individuals here, myself included, are very involved to help the island manage tourism.”
