- With the O.R.A. Standard of the Institute of Ecological Agriculture ΔΗΩ, all the group’s hotel lands in Crete and Santorini have been certified
- A major ESG distinction in the 50th anniversary year of the Group’s founding
Metaxa Hospitality Group has been recognized by ΔΗΩ as the first hospitality group in Greece with organic–regenerative hotel lands certified under the O.R.A. Standard (Organic–Regenerative Agriculture), introducing regenerative agriculture into the hospitality sector and continuing to innovate in ESG and sustainable development.
ΔΗΩ, the official national body for the inspection and certification of organic farming products, approved by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, successfully completed all the required checks and certified, with the specialized and innovative O.R.A. Standard of its Institute of Ecological Agriculture, all cultivation areas within the Group’s hotel properties. Since 2011, these areas have already been managed under the principles of organic–regenerative agriculture.
As part of the pioneering “Sustainable Hotel Agriculture” program, 75 varieties of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs are cultivated in the Group’s hotel gardens in Crete and Santorini, using regenerative practices that focus on optimal natural resource management with exclusive use of organic nutrition and plant-protection products. The harvested produce, of high quality and nutritional value, is used in the hotels’ restaurants and bars. In 2024, in-house production reached 6.8 tons, prioritizing local plant varieties requiring less water and seasonal crops, aligning with natural cycles.
Metaxa Hospitality Group also applies regenerative landscape management practices, certified under EU Regulation 2018/848 for Organic Farming, across approximately 2,000 stremmas of land—among the largest certified areas in Europe. Furthermore, through its pioneering program “Regenerative Agriculture for the Lassithi Plateau and its People — Towards a Sustainable Food Destination,” local farmers are trained by specialized agronomists in regenerative organic farming. Over the past two years, 40 stremmas of farmland have been regenerated, while the Group has sourced around 50 tons of organic regenerative fresh fruits and vegetables.
CEO Andreas Metaxas stated:
“The pioneering certification with the O.R.A. Standard, on the occasion of our Group’s 50th anniversary, rewards our long-standing commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, contributing to the fight against the climate crisis, and developing a resilient, regenerative, and environmentally friendly food system, with an emphasis on soil health. While always providing authentic hospitality experiences, we are gradually integrating regenerative food production into our gastronomy, offering pure, local flavors to our guests. At the same time, through our operations, we aim to create new value chains, with long-term benefits for the environment and local communities.”
According to ΔΗΩ’s announcement:
“Metaxa Hospitality Group achieves the first holistic application of the O.R.A. Standard in the Greek tourism sector, as it covers the entire supply and operational chain — from the land and the producer to the guest and the hotel. We warmly congratulate the Group for its choice to deeply invest in the qualitative enhancement of land and hospitality, and we remain committed to promoting standards with real impact on people, the environment, and society.”
The O.R.A. Standard goes beyond classic organic farming standards, as it incorporates ESG indicators, local cooperation strategies, and agroecosystem feedback measures. It is based on the five internationally recognized principles of regenerative agriculture:
Covering the soil
Minimizing soil disturbance
Crop rotation and diversity
Maintaining living root systems
Integrating animal production
This year, Metaxa Hospitality Group celebrates 50 years of continuous and successful presence in the Greek tourism market. Founded in 1975 by the late Nikolaos Metaxas, and led since 1999 by Andreas N. Metaxas, the Group has entered a new era of dynamic growth, always guided by sustainability.
Today, Metaxa Hospitality Group operates luxury 5-star resorts and hotels with more than 1,100 rooms in Crete (Creta Maris Resort in Hersonissos and TUI Magic Life Candia Maris in Ammoudara) and Santorini (Santo Collection Resorts & Villas in Oia), as well as the “Mikis Theodorakis” Conference Center in Hersonissos—the largest in Crete and one of the leading facilities in Greece.
