In a festive atmosphere, the award ceremony of the successful institution MANAGER OF THE YEAR, which brings together all sectors of the market and all business functions, was held on December 17, 2025, in the presence of approximately seven hundred senior executives from all sectors of the market, government representatives and distinguished leaders. A particularly honorary moment was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievements Manager of the Year 2025 award to Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos.
The award was presented to the Founder and Chairman of Aldemar Resorts and co-founder of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) by Mr. Christian Hadjiminas, Founder of EFA Group and Theon Group, and Chairman of the Board of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (EENE), in the presence of members of EENE. Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos was accompanied at the ceremony by his son and Vice President of EENE, Mr. Alexandros Angelopoulos.
This distinction constitutes the culmination of the long-standing and significant contribution of Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos to the tourism sector, his academic career, and his multifaceted professional and social work.
With a core vision of upgrading and promoting Greek quality tourism, regardless of categories and star ratings, Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos was a co-founder of SETE, contributing decisively to the unification and representation of more than 13 tourism associations. During his presidency, SETE was established as a social partner, strengthening its institutional role and its contribution to the national dialogue on tourism development.
From left to right, Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos, Founder & Chairman of Aldemar Resorts Minas Tanes, Chairman of the Jury of the Manager of the Year 2025 Christian Hadjiminas, Chairman of EENE Pavlos Efthymiou, General Director & Board Member of EENE
His personal journey is a source of inspiration: starting from the small village of Ambeliona in Messinia, which he continues to visit and actively support to this day, he moved to Athens to study at the Athens University of Economics and Business. With consistency and dedication to his goals, he was awarded a scholarship and studied in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he earned his doctoral degree. With a strong sense of responsibility and service to his homeland, and with love for his family, he returned to Greece to actively contribute to the countrys economic development. His dissertation, The contribution of foreign capital to the building of modern Greece, remains more relevant than ever.
From 1989 onward, he began his activities in the development, construction and operation of luxury hotel facilities, and more specifically founded the company ALDEMAR AXTE, with the aim of creating the hotels Cretan Village, Knossos Royal and Royal Mare.
In 1997, as President and CEO of the company EPTEA S.A., he signed the creation of the Olympian Village hotel. At the same time, during that period, he inaugurated in Crete the operation of the first and, to this day, largest Thalassotherapy center in Greece, at a time when the concept of wellness was virtually unknown.
In 2023, he built and inaugurated the largest conference center in Western Greece and one of the largest in the country, the Ilis Congress Center, within the facilities of Olympian Village, giving new momentum to the development of conference tourism in the region.
From left to right, Pavlos Efthymiou, General Director & Board Member of EENE Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos, Founder & Chairman of Aldemar Resorts Christian Hadjiminas, Chairman of EENE
In 2024, Dr. Nikolaos Angelopoulos was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor by the Department of Tourism Studies of the University of Piraeus (PAPEI), confirming the broad recognition of his work and contribution in both the academic and business fields.
This award represents a top honorary distinction for him personally, as well as for Greek tourism as a whole, highlighting the power of vision, consistency and timeless contribution.
