Parklane GM Yannis Stefanou: “There is so much I want to do for this fantastic project”

A warm welcome, a big smile and a good heart - this is what distinguishes a great hotel from a good one, according to Yannis Stefanou, General Manager of Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol.

Here he talks about what it takes to manage a luxury resort and urges future guests to sample, in particular, a delicacy that is available at one of Parklane’s fine dining restaurants.

You were appointed General Manager at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol in 2023. How has your experience been so far?

Time really flies! This is a very creative period in my career as I am fortunate to be trusted by the stakeholders, my colleagues and our dear guests. Having worked in Greece, Dubai and London, I can honestly say that Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, is a stunning property. There is so much I want to do for this fantastic project, that my initial three-year plan has been expanded to five years! The combination of the local culture with the attributes of the Luxury Collection is a powerful one and I truly wish to bring this out to the maximum.

What do you consider to be the main elements needed by a hotel/resort if it is to be popular and successful?

A warm welcome, a big smile and a good heart, really. This is what distinguishes a great hotel from a good one. Being a great hotelier means being surrounded by a number of like-minded associates. Then the room itself. It needs to be spacious, clean, well-designed and with a great view. Gastronomy should be at a very high level 24/7, the Spa should offer a life-changing experience, pools and fitness centre need to be state-of-the-art. These are the basics for a hotel to be considered as one of ‘the greats’ today.

So, what are some of the elements and qualities that make Parklane exceptional?

I would definitely vote for Nammos Limassol, the well-known beach club restaurant with a presence in Mykonos, Dubai and Cannes. Furthermore, its adjacent Retail Village offers an exquisite shopping experience where you can find Dior for men and women, Loro Piana, Loewe and Off-White boutiques, all luxury brands under the house of LVMH group. If you wish to get a taste of Southern France, then La Petite Maison (LPM) Limassol is the restaurant to visit. With 10 restaurants located in several cosmopolitan places such as London, Miami, Hong Kong, Dubai, Saint Tropez, Mykonos and more, La Petite Maison will transport you into the French Riviera. Don’t forget to try the snails. They will stay in your mind forever, mark my words!

How would you describe Parklane’s clientele? Which countries do most of your guests come from?

We enjoy a wide range of nationalities visiting Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Limassol. Our key feeder markers though are the UK, the GCC region, Russia, Israel, France and, of course, Cyprus and Greece. They are all different groups of travellers, with different needs but one thing in common: they all wish to spend some time outside the resort, exploring the city of Limassol and the nearby villages. I would, therefore, call them ‘adventurers’ in the way they perceive travel.

Can you share your current plans for Parklane and your long-term vision for the resort?

In 2024, we launched the Padel Court, aiming to offer that kind of exercise to our guests and members. With three tennis courts and a five-a-side football pitch, it was only a matter of time before we introduced an area for Padel. It is a new trend that only recently made its appearance in Cyprus and I wish I had space for another two courts! We will be also activating a food truck next to the Vythos pool, in an attempt to enhance our F&B offering on that side of the resort while setting the background for some night events with live entertainment. In two years from now, I would love to have 4-5 more mono-brand boutiques, making Parklane the single spot in the country for some items of luxury clothing.

Are there any upcoming projects/events that you can tell us more about?

Nothing too specific. We work very hard on being a “breathing” hotel. Every June, we host the biggest hotel concert in Cyprus, with famous singers from Greece, while each November, we welcome guests to the Energia Wellness Retreat, in collaboration with Oyogo, a UK-based company with numerous fitness and wellness instructors. On a smaller scale, we host 3-4 big events a year at LPM and 25-30 events at Nammos. My favourite time of the year, though, is Christmas and New Year – we host the biggest party in Limassol on 31 December, together with Gabreil Ricchi and Nuart. It is an extravagant night that reminds us all of one thing: creating something new makes one proud.

• Meet the Parklane team here

This article was first published in the first edition of MHV Group’s special publication MHV Moments. To view it, click here. To read the entire publication, click here.