Meet the inspirational sisters Danae and Konstantina Orfanake, co-founders of the innovative and eco-friendly, ACRO Suites boutique hotel concept in Crete, Greece.
Danae and Konstantina grew up in the island of Crete, Greece and since they were young, they have been exposed to the hospitality sector, having spent much of their childhood in their family’s first boutique hotel. Darling features editor spoke to the sisters about their passion, challenges and wins as they navigate the world of business and the hospitality industry as young, female entrepreneurs.
How did your passion for hospitality begin?
Danae: I have a degree in Economics and hospitality management. I studied in Spain and spent one year working in Miami for an established hospitality brand before moving back to Crete to work with my sister and my family on the ACRO Suites project and rebranding of Seaside, A Lifestyle Resort.
Konstantina: My sister and I have a very special relationship which is why us working together came so naturally. I have a master’s degree in hospitality management and a diploma in interior design from Istituto Marangoni. I have also spent one year working in San Diego for The Keating Hotel Group.
Tell us about the space you have created?
Nestled on the rocky cliffside of Mononaftis Bay, ACRO Suites is an extraordinary eco-friendly haven and inspiring sanctuary dedicated to wellness, welcoming guests to unwind, practice self-love and rejuvenate with mother nature.
The property consists of 49 bespoke suites and villas, all designed to create a memorable experience that is the apotheosis of relaxation. From suites nestled into the cliffside, furnished with natural and bohemian elements, to contemporary villas with private infinity pools, and breathtaking sea views, ACRO Suites is the perfect hideaway to reconnect to oneself.
Located at the heart of the property and inspired by the authentic concept of a hammam, “The Bath House” is a sanctuary for those seeking true rejuvenation. The Asana Yoga “Shala” (a Sanskrit word meaning “home”) is another magnificent piece of architecture dedicated to wellness which hosts daily yoga and meditation classes.
ACRO Suites is known for delivering gastronomic excellence. The hotel’s signature restaurant, “Cremnos”, is a nutritional haven where traditional Greek cuisine is combined with a modern twist. The Executive Chef, Yannis Rokanas has created a delicious menu from handpicked, local, organic ingredients from small farms around the island. For a more intimate dining experience, ACRO Suites is introducing this season a new restaurant, Elaionas, based on an exclusive, fine-dining experience.
What makes your wellness retreat different?
ACRO Suites is more than just a wellness retreat. It’s an eco-friendly haven that pays homage to its surrounding nature through the considered use of materials and textures. To ensure our vision was properly brought to life, we sought out the best local Greek designers and craftsmen to collaborate with across the property for an authentic Cretan feel. The rough marble details, natural stones, and unrefined wood complement the look and feel of the hotel.
In addition to all the amenities of the resort, our staff are known for their friendly approach and for dedication towards ensuring that all our guests make the most out of their stay. We also make them feel like ACRO Suites is their second home.
The resort is breath-taking, who came up with the original concept and why?
We came up with the initial idea of ACRO Suites. Our vision was to bring together locally sourced materials entirely dedicated to wellness. Our vision came to life with the launch of ACRO Suites, developed as an eco-friendly destination to encourage the preservation of the local culture, values, and natural Cretan landscapes.
What is unique about the experience travellers will experience at your destination?
Situated on the peaceful side of Agia Pelagia, ACRO Suites is burrowed within the cliffside with endless panoramic views of the Cretan Sea. The hotel’s aesthetic compliments the peaceful, natural surroundings including 49 suites and villas which are designed with muted, earthy tones and organic elements throughout.
ACRO Suites has been built around the concept of wellness and ensuring that we provide a good night’s sleep is an important element in our guests’ relaxation journey. To ensure high-quality sleep, we invested in top-of-the-range Simmons mattresses that are hypoallergenic and aerated. We also offer a special pillow menu for guests with a variety of options to satisfy different density preferences. With every turn-down service, guests are offered a special pillow mist that contains a blend of calming essential oils with a note to inform guests that their wellness crew is at their disposal in case any tips or advice is needed to improve their sleep.
This year, ACRO Suites is also introducing a new weekly deep relaxation session every Sunday evening, held in the hotel’s Asana Yoga Shala, a magnificent piece of architecture where guests are invited to rebalance and escape the strains of everyday life. The practice taps into the art of yoga nidra (conscious yogic sleep) complete with a guided meditation. This type of yoga refers to conscious sleep, where the body rests while the mind remains aware and active.
The Bath House is the place where guests can refresh and take the weight of the world off their shoulders. Inspired by the notion of hammams, this luxury spa promotes wellbeing, health, and purifying the soul. There is a plethora of rejuvenating treatments to help you unwind, including the Aromatic Wandering treatment, an aromatherapy massage using a blend of gentle to firm techniques combined with organic essential oils from Greek aromatic plants. For those who prefer the ambiance of their quarters, the treatments can also be booked en-suite.
How has your background and family business success influenced your outlook as a female entrepreneur?
Being exposed to the hospitality industry early on in our lives allowed us to see all the work that goes behind the scenes of running a hotel and it’s not easy, but it is incredibly rewarding seeing our guests enjoy spending their holidays at ACRO Suites and Seaside A Lifestyle Resort. Seeing the dynamic of our family business and learning about all operational matters early on accompanied by the experience from working in the hospitality industry in the US we were empowered as young entrepreneurs to develop a new boutique hotel concept dedicated to wellness. This presented a certain amount of risk at the time as back in 2016 when the idea of ACRO Suites started to flourish, wellness resorts were not a popular concept in Greece, so we had to demonstrate that our vision would be a successful business model. ACRO Suites took many years to develop until its official launch in 2021, but the result is a boutique hotel that is well worth travelling for.
How has the changing landscape in terms of trends within the hospitality industry?
The hospitality landscape has changed significantly in the last few years as Greece has continued to be one of the leading holiday destinations in the world. Travellers are now looking for more bespoke travel experiences rather than the usual five-star beach holidays. Our vision as a family-owned hotel group has always been to welcome guests with warmth and attentiveness, and to create the ultimate hospitality experience that comes straight from the heart. Each one of our hotels retains its own distinctive personality, but the high service standards are a constant across our entire portfolio and it’s one of our core family values.
Wellness has always been important to travellers, however, in recent years we have noticed that travellers are more discerning in the sense that a nice luxury hotel won’t be enough to satisfy their holiday needs anymore. They are looking for holistic wellness retreats where they can feel at peace with their inner self. They want to feel safe and comfortable and, most importantly, they want complete and utter relaxation, which is what we are trying to deliver with our hotels.
How do you manage to maintain high-service standards consistently?
The wellbeing of our staff is one of our top priorities as an employer and we ensure that we create an optimal working environment where our team feel comfortable and confident that they can deliver outstanding services to our guests.
Why is sustainability so important to you?
Our vision for ACRO Suites was to create a hotel that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape. The elegant design sensibility is proof that design is fundamental to well-being and that the right luxury resorts can help to transform the location that they’re in for the better. Sustainability plays a large role in the hotel’s ethos, with natural materials sourced from Crete such as stones and wood. Sheets and fabrics are all made from organic materials. Food is sourced locally from small farms on the island, all from an organic kitchen with plentiful vegan and vegetarian menu options available. Every suite and villa in the hotel are accompanied by saltwater private pools with breath-taking Cretan Sea views allowing guests to enjoy ultimate privacy in blissful surroundings.
What has been your greatest challenge to date?
We were fortunate to be working with the best architects and designers in Greece who were able to bring our vision to life but there were some challenges we had to overcome. We needed to demonstrate that our vision would be a successful business model and back in 2016 when the idea of ACRO Suites started to flourish, wellness resorts were not a popular concept in Greece. The hospitality landscape was dominated by large all-inclusive hotels, so investing in a boutique wellness resort was not easy. We initially started the project by launching the Asana Yoga Shala where we hosted our first meditation retreat for a month. Seeing this gap in the market at the time is what allowed us to develop the ACRO Suites concept.
What has been your greatest win?
The opening of ACRO Suites back in 2021 has been one of our biggest professional accomplishments. We worked tirelessly to ensure our vision was brought to life and we are incredibly proud and grateful to our team and our stakeholders for the help in shaping our dream into a reality.
To find out more about this incredible holiday destination, visit www.acrosuites.com
Follow @acrosuites | @seasideresort_
