CORFU – Periklis Gompakis, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Mar-Bella Collection Greece, spoke with The National Herald about the family-owned group of three, five-star hotels including MarBella, the Collection’s first hotel, one of the first luxury family hotels on the island of Corfu; Nido, next to MarBella, launched in 2018 as a small luxury hotel; and Elix, the newest hotel in the collection, located above Karavostasi beach on mainland Greece with wide views across the Ionian Sea.

The Mar-Bella Collection story begins in the late 1960s when Vassilis Dracopoulos Senior visited the fishing village of Benitses and fell in love with the beautiful island of Corfu. He dreamt of sharing his love for the island with family and friends and eventually built MarBella, meaning “beautiful sea” in Italian. Since then, the Collection has expanded and continues its tradition of luxury and hospitality.

TNH: What makes the Mar-Bella Collection unique among the resorts in Greece?

Periklis Gompakis: Mar-Bella Collection is a family-owned group of three hotels dotted around the Ionian Sea in Greece. What makes our group different is that each of the hotels has its own unique personality offering a varied experience for guests at different stages in their life, while always underpinned by five-star facilities and excellent service.

Our first hotel, the iconic MarBella, was one of the first luxury family hotels on the island of Corfu and is our de facto family-focused property sold on premium all-inclusive basis.

Nido, next to MarBella, launched in 2018 as a Small Luxury Hotel of the World and is an adults only (16+) boutique all-suite property with just 70 suites with more than half boasting private pools or outdoors whirlpools, designed for relaxation.

Elix is the youngest member of our family, boasting an amazing location in a truly unspoiled part of mainland Greece where guests can enjoy outdoor adventures and cultural sites, attracting couples and families with older children. It was included in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2022 Hot List for its “unbeatable location.”

All three of our properties feature in the Top 10 resorts in Greece as voted by Conde Nast Traveller’s Choice Awards year after year.

TNH: What amenities and activities can guests enjoy during their stay?

PG: Each of our hotels offers a wide range of activities suited to guest needs, from an on-site Aqua Park at MarBella to kids’ clubs and water sports across MarBella and Elix, as well as a daily fitness and entertainment program across all three hotels. At Nido and Elix, we offer a series of residencies by celebrity instructors which include yoga, pilates, and high-intensity training sessions. At Elix, you will also find a series of hiking and biking trails suitable for different abilities.

TNH: Are there any special packages available?

PG: MarBella offers a premium all-inclusive package, really convenient for families or groups of friends traveling together, which includes a la carte dinners, branded drinks and cocktails, unlimited ice cream, non-motorized water sports and much more. Nido guests can upgrade to a half board meal plan which includes a Dine Around program allowing them to dine in the a la carte restaurants across Nido and MarBella next door. For Elix, we offer the option to upgrade from half board to premium all-inclusive, should they wish.

Across all three hotels, any guests staying in Suites for seven nights or more, can enjoy a host of exclusive benefits as part of our Signature Life program.

TNH: What are some of the highlights of the island of Corfu that guests can explore?

PG: Packed with cultural, artistic and culinary treasures, Corfu Old Town is a must-see for every visitor and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Byzantines, Venetians, French and British all ruled over the island, leaving it with a unique history that you’ll find in its churches, palaces, and squares. Our Exclusive Services team can organize a variety of tours focusing on Corfu’s history and gastronomy.

Nature lovers will adore the astonishing birdlife on the 5km-long Korission Lake where they will be able to admire seagulls, owls, buzzards, swallows, and flamingos before cooling down in the waters of the unspoiled Halikounas beach – a top pick by Forbes.

A few minutes’ drive from MarBella & Nido, Benitses combines the charms of a traditional Greek village with one of the island’s cutest Marinas and a host of traditional Greek tavernas.

Last but not least, a cruise of the Northern part of Corfu which can include a stop at the famous location where the popular British TV series ‘The Durrells of Corfu,’ was filmed is a must as is our Catamaran cruise to the stunning islands of Paxos and Antipaxos with their incredible azure waters, recently made famous by the first Greek TV series on Netflix, ‘Maestro in Blue.’

TNH: How far in advance should guests begin planning for their stay?

PG: For those traveling during school holidays, we recommend booking a good few months in advance in order to secure our very popular family rooms which offer extra space and comfort for larger families. With season 2024 being a late market, guests can still benefit from a series of special offer across all three hotels here: https://www.marbella.gr/offers/.

More information is available online: https://www.marbella.gr.