From Corporate to Cozy: My Journey in the Hospitality Industry

After 30 years in the corporate world, working with advertising agencies in Cyprus and London, and roles with companies like Rothmans, British American Tobacco, Gateway Computers EMEA, interFRONTIERS, and Nova (Greece), I decided to explore a new path. My venture into hospitality began out of necessity, as we needed to rent out a holiday home we couldn’t afford otherwise. What started as a practical solution soon became a deep passion. With Ithaki House, I discovered my own Ithaca, a place where I could truly thrive.

The most beautiful thing about hospitality is that you know instantly if you’ve done a good job once the guest arrives. It’s in the smile, the sincere thank you, or just their facial expression. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing our guests feel they made the right choice, loved their stay, and sometimes even book their next visit before they leave!

Hospitality is never boring. Each stay brings a new challenge and offers a unique experience. Personalization is key—getting to know each guest and their preferences turns their stay into something exceptional. When you put your heart and soul into what you do, the result is always special. That’s how we’ve built Ithaki House and our reputation over the past six years. I’ve poured so much of my soul into making Ithaki a dream holiday home.

Everyone says, “Ithaki House is…Tis Christina’s to Merakki.”

I’m incredibly proud that we stand out from the many accommodation options out there. Our guests don’t just say, “We stayed in an amazing Airbnb.” They say, “We stayed in an amazing holiday home, Ithaki House, in the idyllic village of Meladeia, and we were looked after by Christina & Simos. Before we left, we booked to return next year. We highly recommend it!”

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting fascinating people and making friends—not just with guests but also with locals who support us, and whom we support in return. It’s wonderful to visit a local restaurant and hear, “Oh, we know Ithaki House. We had your guests here a few days ago. Thank you for supporting us!”

It was a surprise and an honor when I was asked to present my journey in the hospitality industry at the BNB Conference in Athens in April 2022. If you’d like to read my blog about this experience, click here. For a copy of my presentation, click here.

Thank you for reading! I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together soon.

Christina

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“Ithaki has given you a marvelous journey. Without her I wouldn’t have set out.

Wise I have become, so full of experiences….”

“..with what pleasure, what joy,

you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;”

C.P.Cavafy .