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Esaeé Resort Elounda | Crete

A landmark hotel in Elounda that reshapes Crete’s timeless tradition into a contemporary luxury experience.

What we did for this project

  • Typology Study

  • Concept Development

  • Operational Briefs

  • Branding & Implementation


Learn More

Location

Elounda, Crete

Expected

2025

Official Website

Hotel Synopsis

The below text is a full description of the new, under development property, giving all the details regarding the hotel's story, concept, operation, and experiences, that will provide to its guests

Being an all-suite hotel, there is a wide range of suite types for guests to choose from for their stay, from smart, junior, and open plan to one- and two-bedroom suites. Apart from the comfortable beds and mattresses, the suites also have a gastronomy corner with an upgraded mini bar and a mini wine cellar, while, in the most upgraded types, there is also a make-your-own-cocktail trolley. The private facilities differ depending on the room, however, all suites have either a jacuzzi or private pool, and offer amazing views of the sea and the bay of Mirabello. In addition, they are all equipped with the latest hotel technologies, like Alexa Virtual Assistant, in-room tablet, and Bluetooth speakers, while, apart from the expected room service and housekeeping, they offer more upgraded services like butler or turndown service, which highlight the hotel’s luxury profile.


As for gastronomy, the hotel specifies a multi-level experience, aiming to showcase the Cretan culinary tradition, while also introducing its guests to new flavors from different places of the world. The main outlet is Esaeé Main Restaurant, which serves breakfast and à la carte, dinner menu, including live cooking dishes. Its most significant feature is that it is divided into three parts, each one representing and serving a different cuisine, Greek, Italian, or Asian, while, in its space, it also hosts Esaeé Wine Cellar, which is famous for its wine tasting dinners accompanied by an extensive collection of fine wine labels from Greece, Italy, and countries of the “New World.” At the same time, guests can also dine at Ísame, the local Cretan restaurant, or Bacán, the Peruvian restaurant that is “hidden” at the back side of the plot, waiting to be discovered. The wine tasting dinners as well as Ísame and Bacán are also open to non-staying customers.


Since part of the hotel is literally on the beach, Esaeé Elounda offers a particularly upgraded by-the-water experience at Beach Club Nésos, on its private beach. The Beach Club offers the absolute summer experience, as it gives guests the opportunity to relax in the private cabanas while enjoying signature cocktails, light snacks, interesting seafood dishes, or even massage treatments by the sea introducing an upgraded, new-age lifestyle experience. Besides Nésos, the hotel also has a stellar pool bar, Esaeé Pool Bar, which is known for its relaxing ambiance and special natural design.


Wellness is also a significant pillar of the Esaeé Elounda experience, as the hotel provides a series of services and facilities, on and outside its premises, that revolve around constant and immediate contact with nature and focus on the element of longevity. At the center of the experience is the hotel’s new-age spa, Ápeiron, which stands out for its iconic design, the eternity river pool, the unique anti-aging room and the almost mystical, cave-like hammam. The interior space also hosts a fully equipped gym, where guests can do pilates, TRX, or exercise with a personal trainer. They can also try sports, like padel tennis or archery, or participate in yacht cruises or outdoor group wellness activities. The well-being philosophy of the hotel is complemented by its ecological and sustainable profile, which is proved by the bioclimatic design of all spaces, the adoption of environmentally friendly practices, such as limited use of plastic, and even the production of its own organic, local products, like the lavender amenities in the Levanda Lab.


The outstanding location and view also gave inspiration for the creation of an innovative events space, Esaeé Event Space, which boasts a hybrid design that allows guests to choose whether they would like an indoor or open-air event, according to the occasion and their needs and desires. Either for professional or social gatherings, guests can organize a special event that they will remember forever, strongly connected to the location and surrounding nature and highly differentiated from the typical social events at hotels.


Finally, guests of Esaeé Elounda will have the opportunity to live a completely personalized experience at Esaeé High-Fashion Boutique & Atelier, the hotel’s boutique, which operates as a pop-up store, hosting a different designer every season. At the boutique customers will have the opportunity to make a fully customized order for themselves or as a gift for their loved ones, and they will also be able to “dive into” the designer’s space and observe the creation process, as every service station practically represents a production stage, for example, the stage of picking the fabrics/materials, the stage of picking the design, etc. This means that the experience maintains its traditional background, i.e. the experience at the tailor’s, but with a luxury and contemporary tone, as clients will get to leave with unique, high-level creations of well-known or rising artists.


All the above features compose the well-rounded experience of Esaeé Elounda, which is based on a new form of luxury, closely connected with local authenticity and timelessness, values that are at the core of the hotel’s philosophy and that showcase it as a landmark in the area and a point of reference for luxury vacations globally.

Hotel Typology

The first stage of our Services, which includes the Research & the Typology Study, helped the Hotel Owners take their final decisions regarding the hotel's Typology (type of property, room types, grounds, etc) and its main Features and Facilities, aiming to increase the hotel's ADR as well as its sales potentials from its various departments and services.

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Hotel Grounds

Esaeé Welcome Area & Lobby
Esaeé Main Restaurant
Esaeé Wine Cellar
Esaeé Pool & Bar
Esaeé High-Fashion Boutique & Atelier
Esaeé Deli
Esaeé Event Space
Ísame Local Restaurant
Bacán Gourmet Restaurant
Apóyo Gourmet Restaurant
Nésos Beach Club
Ápeiron Wellness & Fitness Center

Room Types

Smart Suites with Hot Tub
Junior Suites with Swim-Up Pool
Junior Suites with Private Pool
Open Plan Suites with Private Pool
One-Bedroom Suites with Infinity Private Pool
Two-Bedroom Suites with Infinity Private Pool
Extravagant One-Bedroom Suites with Infinity Private Pool

everlasting luxury

Hotel Concept Development

The next stage was the development of the hotel's concept, which included the narrative as well as all the specifications of all the experience and operation elements that will make the new property stand out from its competition.

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Sources of Inspiration

The rich Venetian history and awe-inspiring architecture of the castle of Spinalonga
The self-sufficient settlements of Cretan society that have always provided a high standard of living for its inhabitants
The internationally renowned reputation of Elounda as a top luxury destination
The exceptional amenities and services offered by world-class luxury accommodations
The pervasive role of gastronomy in every facet of Cretan life

Signature Experiences

Longevity Spa Experience
Michelin-lab Experience
Michelin-flavored Private Dinners
Day-long Yacht Experience

Hotel Branding & Implementation

At the final stage of the new hotel's specification, we created an initial branding as well as its indicative applications and implementations, in order to give a fuller idea of the new hospitality product.

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Name Description

The hotel's name, "Esaeé Elounda," was carefully chosen to reflect the property's unique character and core values. The Greek word "esaee," meaning "forever," emphasizes the hotel's commitment to becoming a landmark and trademark in the historically and culturally rich environment of Elounda. The use of a Greek word also highlights the hotel's deep connection to the location, nature, and local traditions, elements that are at the heart of its philosophy and highlighted in every aspect of the stay. The hotel's name conveys the hotel's philosophy, emphasizing timelessness, Cretan tradition, and absolute luxury.

Logo Description

The logo for the new hotel is an imaginative representation of its name, "esaee," meaning "forever." The logo centers on the symbol for infinity, which evolves and transforms to form the hotel's brand. The elegant golden color and special font add to the logo's modern and luxurious feel, creating a recognizable feature that can establish the hotel as a landmark in Elounda quickly. The evolution of the symbol also references two essential elements of the hotel experience: the mountainous landscape surrounding the location and the various routes within the hotel, enabling guests to explore every corner of the castle town.

Implementation Examples

Project Partners

For the completion of the project, Destsetters collaborates with the Architectural and Design teams, in the context of the thorough application of the concept to the overall experience, the correct specification of the anticipated operational needs, and the new hotel's commercial potentials. The Architectural & Design teams are selected by the investors/project owners and play an active part in the overall decisions regarding the development of the new property.

MAKRIDIS ASSOCIATES

Sustainable Architecture & Planning

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