Latest news with #Crete
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
Nature's Calling: JW Marriott Opens On The Island Of Crete
The Greek island of Crete is no stranger to outside influences. It was, perhaps most famously, home to the ancient Minoans (2600-1150 BC), considered one of the most important civilisations of the world, and has been occupied and ruled by many, including the Ottomans and the Venetians, with the island only formally joining Greece in 1913. The latest arrival to set down roots is the American hospitality brand JW Marriott, which, this month, has opened the doors at its first address in the Mediterranean. Located close to the pretty town of Chania, on Crete's north west coast, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa brings a sense of grandeur to this picturesque corner. The entrance to the resort gives a striking hello. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | Stretching across 100 acres of prime shoreline, with 160 rooms, suites and villas, the resort's architecture was conceived by Block722, an acclaimed Athens-based architectural studio. The design echoes the complex criss-crossing of cultures that is intrinsic to the heritage of the island. The main public space (housing the lobby, the urban-style Eēxis bar and Fayi restaurant) is the most striking. Its minimalist design, consisting of chocolate-brown steel pillars, shallow water installations and bamboo-like screens on the façade, are dramatic and a contemporary riff on the pavilion-style buildings of ancient Greece. Set on the Aegean, all rooms boast glorious sea views. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | The large openings in and out of the buildings, combined with large-scale glazing, means everywhere is airy and drenched in light. Across the resort, all buildings have flat roofs, which would otherwise look austere except they are softened with an abundance of planting of herbs and flowers on top of them. It's a novel extension of the hotel brand's signature JW Marriott Garden concept (a green space, usually filled with herbs and vegetables, which is found across all 30 hotels). At JW Marriott Crete, it means as you walk, the air is filled with whispers of thyme and lavender cascading on the breeze from above. The landscaping throughout the property also immerses you in nature, with boulders, rocks, and plenty of plants and flowers, all of which are currently fledging but they will soon grow to fill the walkways with pops of colour. Meanwhile, craggy olive and carob trees root you in Crete, helping the buildings to blend seamlessly into the surroundings. There is also a separate kitchen garden where produce is harvested by the chefs. The resort immerses guests in nature. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | The resort not only looks good but it also boasts solid sustainable credentials—from geothermal and solar energy systems to heat recovery from air conditioning for hot water, and the use of treated grey water for irrigation. General manager, Iosif Christakis, comments: 'This commitment to environmental responsibility has guided every aspect of the resort's development, resulting in a hotel that not only seamlessly blends with its surroundings, but is also deeply shaped by them.' The interior design is pared-back with natural textures and colours. (Credit: NIK) JW Marriott is the luxury arm of Marriott Bonvoy yet the new hotel, with its bold design and sustainable ethos, has an independent spirit, rather than feeling like a cookie-cutter chain hotel. This plays out further in the interior design, also spearheaded by Block722. Suites feel sumptuous with their cream-on-cream décor: from the soft linens to stone floors; natural wood furniture to textural, sisal mats. Colour is added only from the glorious scenes outside: fling open the terrace doors to find the inky-azure Aegean beyond, as if someone has painted it across a sky-canvas—no matter how many times you look, the luminous turquoise is always pleasantly shocking to the eye. You'll also find a private plunge pool, an outdoor dining area and sunbeds with plump olive-green cushions for mindful moments. Bathrooms, meanwhile, are a treat with their egg-shaped tubs, walk-in showers, stocked with Aromatherapy Associates products, and swirly taupe marble vanities. The contemporary design language also stretches to include soft boucle headboards, Japanese-style linen lantern lights and low-slung, curvy bench-sofas for a top-tier level of comfort to the space. Planting, natural rocks and water features gie a timeless aesthetic. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | Costing a reported £70 million to build, the resort will soon also open a collection of luxury villas with indoor-outdoor living, aimed at families and groups of friends (launching in July). While all rooms and suites at the hotel have stunning sea views across to the tiny islet of Palaiosouda; the villas, which are perched high above the property, have wilder, uninterrupted panoramas and are set slightly apart from the main hub of the hotel, for an elevated feel. This is a place where it is easy to stay put in the day, lounging on one of the squidgy beach beds—they are mounted somewhat precariously (although aesthetically pleasing) on rocks and connected by boardwalks—or at one of the three pools (including a kids' and adults-only). If you can muster the energy to rise from the thick cushions, you can pad down to the tiny beach to try your hand at watersports, such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. Perhaps you'll take a boat trip to visit local islands (Santorini is but a mere three-hour boat ride away). The hotel can also organize tours to visit the historic town of Chania, with its unique Venetian harbor; take you in the hills to local farms, as well as organise hikes in the nearby mountains. At JW Marriott Crete, you can delve into local experiences. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | GM, Iosif Christakis, reveals that he has big plans for the resort to elevate guest experiences further. 'There's so much potential here,' he says. 'Located just off our beach, for instance, is a secret cave, dating back some 4,000 years. It will soon be ready as a special place where we will be able to offer private dining and one-off spa treatments. It's very unique, so we are also hoping to offer mindfulness experiences, such as sun-set healing rituals, for an experience you can only find here.' As it happens, 'mindful moments' is JW Marriott's tagline and the box is ticked here with guests able to take a slow hike over nearby hills, to find a hidden yoga deck for sunrise classes. At the Anoseas Spa, this also comes to the fore, especially with the traditional Cretan healing rituals, which use local thyme or lavender-laced oils to execute timeless massage practices. The decor in the spa feels especially cocooning, with curvy, rough-hewn concrete walls and pebble tiles underfoot to lead you to a sun-lit, vitality salt-pool. Inside the nearby sauna, the heat is infused with mint and eucalyptus; while the steam room has mint-infused vapour—a thoughtful way to immerse you in the destination. The Onalos seafood restaurant. (Credit: JW Marriott Crete) Also tapping into locality is the dining offering. There's a dedication to local produce across the six dining venues. Head to Suncti by the Pool for lunch, which offers light bites, such as a Dakos Bread salad, with Messinia feta cheese and plump capers from the garden; make sure you leave room for the Cretan caramalised milk tart. Anoee is one of the signature restaurants, overlooking the sea with Cretan open-fire cuisine by chef Manolis Papoutsakis. The meat-heavy menu is inspired by the mountains of the island, with standouts including Antikristo—slow-roasted lamb cooked on the traditional antikristiera (fire pit) and Keftedes (Cretan meatballs) pan-fried over open fire and served with crispy fries cooked in olive oil. Onalos, on the other hand, is a local fish restaurant with dishes such as octopus served with yellow split beans and taramosalata; there's langoustine tartare and 'Spanakorizo' with Grouper—a Greek rice with spinach emulsion, herbs and lemon. As well as an Italian eaterie, the Fayi restaurant for breakfast and all-day dining and light bites in the Eēxis bar, there is also a JW Market—a café concept, selling locally-sourced produce from small artisans. It's a delight to return home with local wine, olives and nutty olive oil, but that's not all you'll bring. There's a real sense of peace that comes from this Cretan corner of authenticity.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Greece seeks cooperation with Libya to stop migration, PM says
Greece said it would deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from reaching its southern islands Mitsotakis said authorities in Libya should cooperate with Greece to stop migrantsBRUSSELS: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Libya should cooperate with Greece and Europe to help halt a surge in migration flows from the north African arrivals of migrants in Europe from the north of Africa, including war-torn Sudan, and the Middle East have spiked in recent said on Monday it would deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from reaching its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos.'I will inform my colleagues about the significant increase in the number of people from eastern Libya and ask for the support of the European Commission so that the issue can be addressed immediately,' Mitsotakis said ahead of an European Union summit in Brussels that began on said authorities in Libya should cooperate with Greece to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial added that the EU's migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Greece and Malta would travel to Libya early in July to discuss the and order has been weak in Libya since a 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Qaddafi, with the country divided by factional conflict into eastern and western sections for over a decade.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
British woman who caught Legionnaires' in Crete wakes from coma
A British woman who caught a serious lung disease while on holiday in Crete has woken from an induced coma and reached out to her husband, according to her Jobling, 57, from Hull, was put into an induced coma after contracting Legionnaires' disease on the Greek island earlier this Thursday, Ms Jobling remained "critical" in intensive care, with husband Sid, 69, at her hospital bedside, but her niece, Klaire Keita, said medics believed she was "heading in the right direction".Ms Keita, 42, said: "On Wednesday, Donna opened her eyes and tapped on Sid. He Facetimed me straightaway, he was over the moon. We all are." It is not clear if the source of the disease has yet been identified, but easyJet Holidays has moved other customers out of the hotel they were staying in, as a Jobling has been in an intensive care unit at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion since 11 June, Ms Keita 5 June, she developed a chest infection, which triggered acute respiratory failure and Keita, who described her aunt as "the best person you could ever hope to meet", said: "Donna came out of the coma on Monday. "She is still very poorly and we do not have a clue when she will be able to come home." Ms Jobling and her husband were holidaying with another couple, Paula and Nicholas Mason, also from Masons returned home on 12 June - the day both couples were meant to fly back Mason previously said her friend looked "really healthy" in photographs taken at the start of the break, which was booked by the two husbands as a surprise for their Keita said she dashed to Crete to see her aunt when she was taken ill. She plans to return once Ms Jobling's European Health Insurance Card, ordered prior to the holiday, arrives."The doctors say they need it," she said. "Fortunately, Donna also took out holiday insurance." In Crete, locals have been "absolutely brilliant", according to Ms Keita."A restaurant, in particular, has been so kind to Sid," she said, adding the couple's local pub in Hull, The Dairycoates Inn, had organised a collection to help the family meet extra costs. "We're so grateful for everyone's support," said Ms Ms Jobling's diagnosis, the Greek health ministry issued a statement to hoteliers in Crete to "raise awareness among all those involved in monitoring the quality of water for human consumption especially with regard to Legionella". The BBC has asked easyjet Holidays if the source of the disease had now been identified, but it would not deviate from a statement issued last week, which said it was "continuing to support her and her family in every way we can".It had also contacted customers who were due to travel in the next four weeks to provide alternative options and had also contacted those who had recently stayed at the hotel "to inform them of necessary guidance". Legionnaires' disease Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection most commonly contracted through the inhalation of water droplets containing Legionella is usually caught in places such as hotels, hospitals and office buildings from contaminated air conditioning systems, but can also be contracted from spa pools and hot include shortness of breath, a high temperature and chest pain or discomfort. The disease can induce pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, which can be life-threatening.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Greece seeks cooperation with Libya to stop migration, PM says
June 26 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Libya should cooperate with Greece and Europe to help halt a surge in migration flows from the north African state. Seaborne arrivals of migrants in Europe from the north of Africa, including war-torn Sudan, and the Middle East in recent months. Greece said on Monday it would deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from reaching its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos. "I will inform my colleagues about the significant increase in the number of people from eastern Libya and ask for the support of the European Commission so that the issue can be addressed immediately," Mitsotakis said ahead of an European Union summit in Brussels that began on Thursday. Mitsotakis said authorities in Libya should cooperate with Greece to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial waters. He added that the EU's migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Greece and Malta would travel to Libya early in July to discuss the issue. Law and order has been weak in Libya since a 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with the country divided by factional conflict into eastern and western sections for over a decade.
The Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Greece to deploy frigates off Libya to curb increased migrant flows, PM says
Greece will deploy two frigates and another vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from arriving at its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday. Mitsotakis did not elaborate on the role of the vessels or explain what they would do, but said the move would be in coordination with Libyan authorities and European forces operating in the area. Sea arrivals from northeastern Libya of migrants trying to cross to Europe mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, including war-torn Sudan, have surged in recent months. More than 800 migrants have tried to reach Greece's southern islands since last Thursday. Mitsotakis told Greek President Constantine Tassoulas the issue was discussed during a national security and defence council on Sunday and the situation was alarming. 'I have asked the defence minister to ensure Greek navy vessels are deployed off Libya's territorial waters to pre-emptively send a message that traffickers will not command who enters our country,' he said. The three ships, including a support vessel, would leave Greece soon, two government officials with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. Greece has been a favoured gateway to the EN for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 2015 when nearly one million people landed on its islands, causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Since then migrant flows from Turkey have dropped significantly. In more recent years, Greece has seen a rise in arrivals from Libya, including Sudanese nationals fleeing Egypt and Egyptian and Bangladeshi nationals, and Athens and Cairo have discussed the spike in migration flows. Greece and Libya have been trying to mend relations strained by an accord signed in 2019 between the Libyan government and Turkey. Reuters
