At ena Development Consultants, we are especially proud to be part of the tourism development on the emerald island of the North Aegean, Thassos. We support the realization of the business visions of seven investors from Xanthi and Thassos, who created their own tourist accommodations on the island. By leveraging the financial tools of the expiring ESPA 2014–2020, and with the support of ena's experienced team, the new businesses successfully secured 50% funding of their expenses through the action "Support for the Establishment and Operation of New Tourism SMEs" under the Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation", ESPA 2014–2020.
The subsidized expenses included construction works, procurement and installation of machinery and equipment, quality assurance systems, promotion and marketing, software, vehicles, and consulting services.
One of these investments is Perla Beach Hotel. The Marketing Department of ena, as part of creating the new Business Story, had the pleasure and honor of visiting the Perla Beach tourist hotel and speaking with Mr. Yilmaz Nurioglou, getting a small taste of the hospitality and services offered—an experience we will do our best to share with you. The owner of the accommodations kindly answered a series of questions:
How did the idea for your new venture come about?
The idea existed before the ESPA action, and the design of Motivo in Thassos had started very early. I had known the island only as a tourist and discovered that it had great development prospects. Although I am a mechanical engineer with my own technical office in Xanthi, the tourism sector was something that interested me for a long time, and I wanted to create my own accommodation at some point.
How did ena Development Consultants and the ESPA funding contribute to the realization of your project?
ESPA helped me implement my business plan, and the funding was a great aid in maintaining a high profile and high quality in the services provided
I started collaborating with ena in 2017, when the ESPA action that interested me was announced. ena helped me create my entire investment plan from scratch, gather the financial data required for my application file, and prepare the necessary feasibility study to start. Subsequently, they naturally took over guiding me during the implementation of the plan after its approval for funding. I would 100% recommend the company to other investors for realizing their business ideas.
What makes your business stand out?
The business was designed with a focus on uniqueness in terms of design. In the initial phase, we wanted to create a hotel that would be different from the others regarding both its interior and exterior design.
In the second phase, we were interested in providing the best possible service. What we do differently from many other accommodations is that we treat each guest individually, focusing on noting their preferences and intentions—everything they have told us during the booking—and we honor what they have shared with us even the next time they visit. What we desire is for our guests to honor us by returning the following year. To achieve this, we make sure to build personal relationships with our visitors.
Tell us a few words about your business.
Motivo has 22 rooms of various types, ranging from double rooms to two-room apartments, with a total of 50 beds. Its outdoor areas include a bar, garden, and pool, which offer guests coolness and relaxation.
Το Μotivo διαθέτει 22 δωμάτια, διαφόρων τύπων από δίκλινα μέχρι δίχωρα διαμερίσματα, σε ένα σύνολο 50 κλινών. Οι εξωτερικοί του χώροι περιλαμβάνουν bar, κήπο και πισίνα που προσφέρουν στους επισκέπτες δροσιά και χαλάρωση.
Apart from me, five other people work from May to September, and they reside permanently in Thassos throughout the season.
What are your future plans for your business?
Some expansion of the business is not in our short-term plans. What we desire for the near future is to successfully utilize the feedback we receive from our guests to improve the services we provide and the customer experience season after season.
Email: [email protected]
Skala Potamias, Thassos 64004, Greece
Contact at: +30 25930 62299 – +30 6989 853 243
The Business Stories series offers an insider’s view of the success stories of individuals who trusted and collaborated with ena Development Consultants, making the best possible use of the funding programs they participated in and, through their skills, talent, and determination, turning their entrepreneurial vision into reality.
The team at ena Development Consultants will always stand as supporters in every effort to achieve their clients’ development goals.
