Double gold distinction for Sani/Ikos Group as “Best Hotel to Work In”

1 March 2024 - The top distinction -Gold- in the category of 'Best Hotel to Work in' was awarded to the Sani/Ikos Group resorts, Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts, at the 2024 Greek Hotel of the Year awards, organized for the fifth consecutive year by the Boussias Communications group, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE). The 'Best Hotel to Work in' category was introduced this year to highlight best practices in people management and human resources development in the tourism sector. The prestigious awards ceremony was held on Thursday, February 29, at the Vasilis and Eliza Goulandris Foundation, in the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni.

“Our 7.000 employees, (5.500 in Greece) crafting unique experiences for visitors always with respect for local communities and the environment, are the heart and driving force behind the Sani/Ikos Group's unparalleled hospitality, which is why we continuously invest in the professional, and personal development and the growth of all our teams", said Juan de Hoces, Chief HR Officer of the Sani/Ikos Group, during the awards ceremony. With the support of our people and guided by the principles of sustainable development -including the protection of ecosystems, support for local communities, transparency, and inclusivity- our Group continues to lead the way in advancing luxury tourism in Greece, both domestically and internationally”.

Sani/Ikos Group's commitment to responsible governance is a key pillar of its business strategy at both Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts. The Group has developed a series of programmes and initiatives aimed at education, personal empowerment, and rewarding employees, while salary packages, benefits, and perks (e.g., accommodation, meals, transportation) offered to staff are upgraded annually. At Sani/Ikos Group resorts, employees enjoy a healthy and safe working environment that values diversity, fosters innovation and encourages change.

To ensure continuous learning and development, the Group has introduced the Sani/Ikos Group eLearning Platform, providing a personal "learning path" where all employees can undergo induction and training tailored to their individual role, through state-of-the-art asynchronous teaching methods. Moreover, the Sani/Ikos Group Recognition & Appreciation Scheme rewards employees for promoting Group values and delivering exceptional hospitality, with nearly 80% of guests at Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts acknowledging that the staff exceeds their expectations[1].

The Group has developed additional tools for employee development and empowerment, such as the new Performance Management Alignment System introducing a holistic performance management approach for all partners, the annual educational program "The Masterclass Series" held annually before the opening of the tourist season and now in its fourth consecutive year, having already covered 74 thematic areas and over 60,000 training hours, the "Meet your Workplace" editions, the "Onboarding Buddy Program" for permanent staff, the Train the Operational Trainer training sessions, as well as other targeted practical and academic training programmes.

Promoting know-how exchange, teamwork, and open communication, the Group provides all employees access to the dynamic communication platform, Viva Engage, where they can connect through communities and discussions. Additionally, the Sani/Ikos Group Intranet serves as a hub for employees to access information, documents, and useful tools for their work.

In 2023, in collaboration with the Educational Group AKMI, the Sani/Ikos Group launched the innovative educational programme "Hospitality Forward" to meet the growing demand for skilled personnel in the hospitality sector, one of Greece's fastest-growing industries. Through this programme, now in its second successful year, the Group offers students a full study grant and employment contracts from the first semester of their studies.

The Sani/Ikos Group employs 7,000 people, with 5,500 working in Greece, and over 60% coming from local labour markets. In January 2023, the Group signed a new two-year collective labour agreement, offering all hotel employees, old and new, working in its resorts, an 8% salary increase - a higher increase than the corresponding percentage of the national sectoral agreement for the same period.

In 2022, the percentage of women in senior management positions increased by over 30%, while investment in personnel training, development, and empowerment grew by 50%. More information about the Group's sustainability and corporate governance initiatives is available in the 2022 ESG Report.

[1] According to surveys and questionnaires addressed to all Sani/Ikos Group guests.