- By Viki Tryfona
Hersonissos, Crete, is welcoming another major investment that will strengthen its reputation as a leading tourist destination on the island. Hersonissos Group, the Kaloutsakis family group that has been a leading player in hospitality for four decades, is preparing to create a new five-star hotel in the “Ano Sarantari” or “Pefana” location, next to the Hersonissos Port.
The new unit, which has already received environmental approval, will be developed on an area of ??28 acres and will consist of 18 buildings with a total built-up area of ??approximately 6,750 sq m. The hotel will offer 112 rooms and suites, with a total capacity of 224 beds, aimed at high-demand guests seeking the experience of luxury in Crete.
Infrastructure and facilities
The complex has been designed with modern architecture and its harmonious integration into the natural landscape in mind. The center of the plot will be dominated by the central building, around which the remaining facilities will be developed. Particular emphasis is placed on relaxation areas, with shared and private swimming pools, with a total area of ??1,100 sq.m., as well as green areas that will enhance the sense of peace and luxury.
The unit will also have parking spaces, underground fire and water tanks, as well as a wastewater treatment facility, which will allow the reuse of water for irrigation of ornamental plants. Excess water will be channeled into specially designed absorption trenches, contributing to the enrichment of the underground aquifer – a choice that highlights the environmental orientation of the project.
A history of over 40 years
Hersonissos Group is one of the most characteristic examples of Cretan entrepreneurship in tourism. Its journey began in 1980 with the Heronissos Hotel, the first hotel created by architect Konstantinos Kaloutsakis and his wife Iliana. This was followed by Hersonissos Maris in 1984 and Hersonissos Palace in 1991, while the portfolio was enriched with the renovation and transformation of Pefana Village Hotel into Hersonissos Village Hotel.
The strategic development continued with the acquisition of Bella Beach and Silva Beach, which significantly strengthened the group’s presence in the region. A milestone in 2018 was the creation of Abaton Island Resort & Spa, a luxury complex that set new standards for the region and attracted international attention. At the same time, the group expanded its footprint outside Crete, with the Aeifos Santorini hotel in Imerovigli, which also targets high-end clients.
Stable presence in Hersonissos
Today, Hersonissos Group owns and operates six hotels in Hersonissos, totaling seven units including Santorini. With more than 40 years of experience and a permanent presence at the heart of Heraklion’s tourism development, the Kaloutsakis family has made a decisive contribution to the region’s tourism identity.
The new investment comes to strengthen this path, emphasizing a more qualitative and sustainable approach to hospitality. Hersonissos, known for decades as a popular destination for visitors from all over Europe, is currently in a transition phase towards a more diversified tourism product, and the new Kaloutsakis family hotel is a typical example of this development.
Prospects
The investment in the “Ano Sarantari” location is not a piecemeal move, but part of a broader development plan that the group is systematically implementing. With projects that combine architectural quality, luxury and sustainability, Hersonissos Group aims to further upgrade the image of Hersonissos, attracting visitors seeking high-level experiences.
For Crete as a whole, this new unit is yet another example of the momentum that has been developing in recent years, with local entrepreneurship taking the lead and strengthening the island’s competitiveness as a leading tourist destination in the Mediterranean.
