On the occasion of International Education Day, the Sani/Ikos Hotel Group reaffirms its commitment to education as a key pillar of growth and innovation in the tourism sector. Through strategic investments in tourism education and the development of its employees, the Group has the vision to contribute to the creation of a new generation of professionals in the rapidly growing luxury hospitality sector. At the same time, through numerous initiatives and synergies in the field of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, the Group supports children’s education and access to knowledge in all the communities where it is present.
Today, the Sani/Ikos Group employs over 7,000 employees, of which 5,500 are in Greece. Thanks to its dynamic growth in the Mediterranean, it has created thousands of new jobs in the last decade, while by 2028 it is expected to reach 10,000 employees. Over 60% of the staff come from local communities, strengthening the Group’s connection with the communities where it operates.
Important synergies & initiatives to strengthen tourism education
As part of its strategy to strengthen tourism education in line with modern international trends and its connection with the labor market, the Group created, in collaboration with the AKMI Educational Group, the pioneering HOSPITALITY FORWARD program. The program offers high-level studies, is fully subsidized by the Sani/Ikos Group, and guarantees employment in the Group’s resorts from the very first semester of their studies. The first graduates of the program have already begun their professional journey in the fields of Culinary Arts Specialist (Chef) and Hotel Services Executive, while the initiative continues with great success in the current academic year.
At the same time, the group collaborates with leading academic institutions, such as Cornell of Cornell University, which is recognized worldwide in the field of tourism education, to provide educational programs and professional development to its employees. This collaboration, which continues in 2025, for the second consecutive year, enables staff to specialize in a variety of subjects, such as leadership, marketing, data analysis, human resources, and the entire spectrum of sustainability and ESG, strengthening the skills and expertise of the Group’s people in the hospitality sector.
In addition, the Sani/Ikos Group has developed advanced educational tools and programs, such as the online asynchronous learning platform “Sani/Ikos Group eLearning Platform”, which provides personalized “learning paths”, and the annual program “The Masterclass Series”, which takes place every year in advance of the tourist season, covering a wide range of topics and all the new trends in luxury tourism, or even the “Meet your Workplace” publications, the “Train the Operational Trainer” programs and other targeted training.
Educational initiatives for children, women, and families throughout Greece
A pioneer in sustainability and responsible governance, the Sani/Ikos Group has developed -in collaboration with non-profit organizations- initiatives, such as workshops and specialized training programs, to enhance women’s access to the tourism market and their professional empowerment.
At the same time, it systematically invests in the education and upbringing of children -in issues such as environmental protection- in all the areas where it operates, through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that embrace local schools, cultural institutions, and communities.
The hotel group has long supported the Mobile Library of the Children’s Rights Network, which travels to schools throughout Greece, bringing children the joy of learning. In 2024, the Mobile Library, with the support of the Group, visited areas of Halkidiki and Kos, offering interactive activities on environmental protection and children’s rights to hundreds of students and teachers. At the same time, through significant donations to the Library4All initiative, 34 schools and kindergartens in Halkidiki, Corfu, the Dodecanese, as well as special schools throughout the country, were supported with books that cover different age groups and educational needs, promoting knowledge and environmental awareness.
In Corfu, the Group’s resorts, Ikos Dassia and Ikos Odisia, are supporters of the environmental education program “The Life Cycle of the Butterfly” organized by the Kapodistrias Museum and the Corfu Butterfly Conservation organization, to highlight local biodiversity and raise environmental awareness among children and their families, while in Halkidiki, Sani Resort systematically donates technological and other equipment to schools and kindergartens in the area, among many other actions.
These initiatives reflect the commitment of the Sani/Ikos Group to support local communities, inspire younger generations, and promote knowledge and sustainability, contributing to a better world for all.
About Sani/Ikos Group
Sani/Ikos Group is an innovative, dynamically growing hotel group, with luxury resorts in unique seaside destinations in the Mediterranean. Through its Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts brands, it develops and operates over 3,450 rooms and suites in 12 privately owned hotel complexes in Greece and Spain, which are among the leading luxury resorts in the world. The Group has secured three new investment projects for the further expansion of the Ikos brand in Greece (Crete), Spain (Marbella), and Portugal (Algarve), which will operate from 2026 to 2028 while continuing to develop Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts in Greece and Spain. A pioneer in sustainable tourism issues, the Group has developed an ambitious strategic sustainability plan (ESG), while it is a member of the United Nations Global Compact for Business (UN Global Compact).
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