Thassos, the emerald island of the Aegean, with its lush pine forests, olive groves famed for the renowned throumba olives, and stunning beaches, welcomed us for the 8th Business Story. A long-standing jewel of Northern Greece, the island is experiencing remarkable growth—defying recent years of economic hardship and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic—developing at an impressive pace.
At ena Development Consultants, we are especially proud to be part of this development, supporting the realization of the business visions of seven investors from Xanthi and Thasos for the creation of their own tourist accommodation on the island. Utilizing the funding tools of the outgoing ESPA 2014-2020 and with the help of ena’s experienced staff, the new businesses succeeded in obtaining approval for funding covering 50% of their expenses through the action “Support for the Establishment and Operation of New Tourism Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises” of the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” ESPA 2014-2020. The subsidized expenses include building works, procurement and installation of machinery and equipment, quality assurance systems, promotion, software, transportation means, and consulting services.
At ena Development Consultants, we support tourism, one of the main pillars of the country’s development. We assist investors in upgrading their offered tourism products by highlighting competitive advantages, the rich cultural heritage, and the natural beauty of our region. At the same time, we support tourism employment, which is a key driver in reducing unemployment, especially among young people and women.
"8 Keys Luxury Suites in Skala Potamias – S. Menexes & Co. LLC"
Mr. Nikos, the receptionist of The 8 Keys Luxury Suites, welcomed us with a broad smile and gave us a tour of the modern facilities of the accommodation in the Skala Potamias area. The 8 Keys opened its doors to the public in May 2022, offering three different accommodation options across its eight luxurious suites.
The investors from the company S. Menexes & Co. LLC spoke to us about the birth of their project idea, which arose from their experience as furniture manufacturers in the hotel sector. Additionally, they emphasized the importance they place on the quality of services provided in their high-aesthetic luxury suites, aiming to offer refined accommodation to their guests.
The investors’ future plans are to continue working with professionalism, staying informed and improving, in order to contribute to the promotion of the area where they operate.
Regarding their collaboration with ena, they mentioned that the company supported every aspect of their investment plan, preparing it thoroughly and providing them with comprehensive guidance for the optimal utilization of funding sources.
Read more about our visit at: The 8 Keys here
Email: [email protected]
Τηλ. Επικοινωνίας: +306936 854 860
"Bella Vista Luxury Apartments in Skala Potamias – Papamarkou Brothers LLC"
Mr. Nikos Papamarkos and his son Thodoris welcomed us to the beautiful facilities of Bella Vista Luxury Apartments in the Skala Potamias area and spoke to us about the new area of activity of Papamarkou Brothers LLC.
"According to the investors, the idea had been born quite some time ago, as the family had been vacationing in Thassos for years and held a special affection for the place. Later, they were given the opportunity to purchase a plot of land, which, with funding from ESPA, was transformed into a modern tourist complex."
The investors highlighted the crucial importance of the ESPA funding for the faster implementation of the investment and their good cooperation with ena. This collaboration involved the submission and execution of the plan, as well as addressing issues that arose from bureaucracy during the process.
Τα στοιχεία που κάνουν ξεχωριστό το Bella Vista According to the investors, what makes Bella Vista special are the architectural design of the complex, the spaciousness of the areas, its unique location within an old olive grove of the region, and the quality of the equipment.
Their future plans already include the possible expansion of their facilities into neighboring land, as well as the upgrading of the services offered.
Read more at: Bella Vista Luxury Apartments here
Email: [email protected]
Skala Potamias, Thassos 64004, Greece
Phone: +30 6944739901, +30 2593061951
Perla Beach at Skala Potamias – Yilmaz Nurioglou
Mr. Nurioglou left his life in Istanbul in 2016 and, together with his pregnant wife, decided to invest in Thassos. Leaving behind his career as a marine engineer at Shell Turkey, he had already acquired the necessary skills (as he told us) that would help him manage his own business.
Perla Beach stands out due to its distinctive modern industrial design, which Mr. Nurioglou himself designed in collaboration with the accommodation’s architect. However, according to him, it is the service provided to visitors that can truly differentiate a business in the competitive tourism sector.
The Perla Beach hotel stands out due to its unique modern industrial design, which Mr. Nurioglou personally designed in collaboration with the accommodation’s architect. However, according to him, what can truly differentiate a business in the competitive tourism sector is the quality of visitor
In his long-term future plans, there is a desire for a small expansion of the business, which currently consists of 12 studios and maisonettes housed in 2 buildings.
Read more about our visit at: Perla Beach here.
Email: [email protected]
Contact Number: +30 6943165355
Acantha Suites in Skala Potamias – Tsobanidou Maria & Co. LLC
Acantha Suites is a modern accommodation located in Skala Potamias, Thassos, just about 100 meters from the famous Golden Beach (Χρυσή Ακτή) and approximately 13 km from the Port of Thassos. The property offers suites with free Wi-Fi and sea views, providing a comfortable and elegant stay for visitors
Read more about our visit at: Acantha Suites here.
Email: [email protected]
Skala Potamias, Thassos 64004, Greece
Contact Number: +30 6943165355
"The Angeliki Boutique Hotel in Skala Rachoni – S. Konstantinidis / A. Konstantinidou"
During our visit to The Angeliki Boutique Hotel in Skala Rachoni, we had the pleasure of meeting two young people, full of enthusiasm and plans for the development of their business, Angeliki and Stavros.
The creation of an accommodation in Thassos, as the investors confided to us, was a dream of “Grandpa Stavros” and “Grandma Angeliki,” who also gave the hotel its name, to build something for their grandchildren on the island.
The dream became a reality, as they told us, thanks to the funding from ESPA and their excellent and crucial collaboration with ena, which took on the submission and implementation of the business plan.
What makes Angeliki Boutique Hotel special are the people behind it, who have a deep love both for what they do and for the island of Thassos, and are determined to show their visitors all the reasons why the area is worth visiting.
Although the business started operating just a few days ago, the owners’ immediate future plans include enriching their offered services with even more fresh ideas and later expanding the business when conditions allow.
Read more about our visit at: The Angeliki Boutique Hotel here.
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Contact Number: +30 2593081562, +30 6947384399 (+ What’s App), +30 6947512922
Motivo at Skala Potamias – Alpha Ccom MIKE
Another young person, Mr. Christos Albanidis, welcomed and hosted us at his business, the distinctive Motivo in Skala Potamias. The industrial design and interesting patterns make the hotel’s spaces so unique and different in a business that began operating in August 2020 amid the pandemic.
From the very beginning, the business has emphasized customer service, and what makes it stand out is that it uses every preference, observation, and feedback received from its visitors to continuously improve and enhance the experience of those who choose Motivo for their holidays. In this way, it creates personal relationships with its guests, encouraging them to choose it again for their stay the following year.
The collaboration between Mr. Albanidis and ena began before the submission of the business's file for the grant, as the idea already existed and, with the company's contribution, the necessary preparatory work was carried out, including a viability study and an investment plan. With the announcement of the grant and funding from ESPA, the impetus was given for the quicker and easier implementation of the venture, which commenced immediately after the plan's approval.
The future plans of the business are shaped by interaction with its visitors and are evaluated at the end of each season, so that the services offered are enriched year by year and the visitor experience is significantly improved.
Read more about our visit at: Motivo here.
Email: [email protected]
Skala Potamias, Thassos 64004, Greece
Contact at: +30 25930 62299 – +30 6989 853 243
La Terra Petra at Skala Rahoni – Accommodation Solutions ΑΕ
The accommodations La Terra Petra are located on the northwestern side of Thassos, more specifically in the beautiful area of Skala Rachoniou. There are two types of accommodations for visitors to choose from: a one-bedroom stone-built house with a courtyard and a one-bedroom stone-built house with a jacuzzi.
Read more about our visit at: La Terra Petra here.
Email: [email protected]
Contact Number: +30 694 454 1180
Remember Business Story #1: Le Fondant!!
