Travel Insider – Angela Ntargaki, Guest Relations Manager, The Olivar Suites
Q. Angela can you tell me a bit about the background of The Olivar Suites?
The site that has been developed used to be an olive grove and has belonged to The Olivar Suites owners’ family for more than 350 years. The main building down by the beach which houses the ‘Olibar’, our stunning Corfiot bar, is the original olive mill house.
Q. The design of The Olivar Suites is quite different to other resorts nearby – why is that?
The vision of the owners and their architects, Costis & Phivos Skroumbelos and Project Architect Argyro Kopsida, was that they wanted guests to enjoy an authentic, intimate and private experience while retaining the feeling of being in a traditional Corfiot village.
All of the buildings are low rise so that they blend into the village of Messonghi. The gardens have been planted to create privacy for the suites and also to exude the smells and senses of Corfu, so we have natural tones of lavender and thyme throughout the property.
Q. I understand that the owners were keen to conserve the trees on the site?
From a conservation perspective it was important to them that they save the entire grove. They've ensured that every olive tree has been rehomed, either by moving them around the site to become an integral part of the landscape design of The Olivar Suites, relocating them to their other two hotels on Corfu or to other local sites. All the trees remain intact and on Corfu.
Q. Would you say there is a strong sustainability ethos at The Olivar Suites?
Sustainability and community is really important to us. All our goods are sourced locally and support the local producers on the Island.
In addition we ensure that consumption of natural resources is kept to a minimum, our waste treatment is designed to have minimal environmental impacts and we use only eco-friendly friendly cleaning products and organic materials.
What’s also important to us is that our employees are all locals and we are bringing in more custom to the businesses in our village too.
Q. Tell me about your role here?
As Guest Relations Manager I am here to ensure everyone is well looked after and that they have the very best experience possible.
I have been fortunate to work in some of the best hotels in London and before I joined the team here I was working at The Savoy in London, also as part of the Guest Relations team.
My ethos is that the most important part of a holiday are the memories that are created and so our team is solely focused on exceeding expectations to ensure this is the case for our guests.
Everything matters – from the first smile to the tiniest details.
Q. Who would be your typical guest?
The Olivar Suites is a perfect destination for couples, groups of friends travelling together and families, all of whom are looking for luxury, relaxation, privacy and an authentic stay.
While we warmly welcome families, I would highlight that we don’t offer kids clubs or children’s activities.
Our guests also value being able to support local communities and want to be immersed in local Corfiot life and so our position in the heart of the village is a big attraction.
Q. What suites are available for guests?
We have 120 suites here at The Olivar Suites and most of them include private pools. It’s only 20, many of which are on the upper floors, that don’t. We are proud to offer the largest selection of pool suites in Corfu.
The high proportion of pool suites is an important part of our vision for privacy.
Our clients are likely to want to spend more time in their room and so from next year we will be tailoring our offering to suit, with in-room dining, spa treatments and even PT sessions being made available if clients wish.
This in-suite offering was something we had hoped to provide this year as we launched, but due to Covid we have decided it will be a feature from 2022 onwards.
Q. What are your most popular suites?
Different styles are popular with different guests.
Ionian Suites cater for three people and are situated on the beach with easy access to the pool, our restaurant and bar. As well as offering the largest pools, these also offer two bathrooms, the ensuite also has a bath, and a large but private garden area.
Above there are the Riviera suites. While they don’t have a private pool, these suites more than compensate with a large terrace and spectacular picture windows so that clients can lay in bed and drink in the views of the Ionian sea and beyond to mainland Greece.
We often see these two suites - the Ionian and Riviera - sell together as it offers accommodation for five people and the pool can be enjoyed by all.
Corfiot Suites are popular amongst families and couples or friends travelling together due to the two bedroomed lay out.
Couples are also opting for our Majestic Suites due to their larger private pools and outdoor terrace areas.
Q. The food is outstanding – can you tell us more about it?
We are so excited to have Chef Spyros Agious heading up our kitchen at ‘Flya’.
He is a young, talented and acclaimed Greek Chef with a Golden Chef’s Hat Award under his belt and an impressive track record of working at some of the best restaurants and hotels in Europe, including the Greenhouse and Claridge’s in London.
We are delighted that he has chosen to return home to Corfu to head up our talented kitchen team.
Our guests enjoy modern Corfiot and Mediterranean cuisine in our restaurant ‘Flya’ offering a unique tasting experience, or a more casual menu in the 'Olibar'. Menus reflect the authentic recipes, ingredients and flavours of our grandparent’s generation, but with a modern and sophisticated twist on each dish.
Q. Finally, what’s your Insider tip for those considering a stay….
Stay with us at The Olivar Suites and you can head off to Paxos and Antipaxos, explore Corfu Town, either by bus or boat, or you’ve got the beautiful clear waters of the Ionian sea to explore by paddle board or kayak.
Corfu has so much to offer that many clients combine a week with us and then head North to take in the contrast and sights in the North of the Island.
Whatever you would prefer, your travel expert can work with us to arrange.
