bluegr Hotels & Resorts: Habits of Excellence
Recognised by EFQM 5 Star
For bluegr Hotels & Resorts excellence isn’t just an abstract notion; it is a philosophy woven into the fabric of our everyday operations. When we embarked on the EFQM journey for the first time a few years ago, the challenge to constantly improve was not merely a task but an opportunity to redefine what it means to set the standard in Hospitality.
The long-lasting legacy of our historic hotels underscores the importance of preserving and protecting tradition and authenticity while embracing innovation. In a landscape marked by fierce competition and persistent challenges we recognized early on the need to stay ahead of the curve all the while finding sustainable solutions in our everyday operations that would ensure our continued success.
Implementing the EFQM model enabled us to meticulously record, monitor and refine our processes, measure our performance through key performance indicators and self-assessment. Simply put, we discovered our internal mechanism of Excellence which mainly entails a cycle of continuous improvement across all our activities fostering and facilitating a culture of betterment and growth.
For bluegr, one of the most important success indicators is the happiness of our people, serving as the cornerstone of our commitment to excellence. Excellence is expressed daily through actions, and it is the joy reflected in our people’s work, the satisfaction they derive from exceeding expectations, and the sense of fulfillment they experience in contributing to our shared mission and vision that makes the journey worthwhile. Through their habits of excellence, our employees add value to the guest experience, providing exceptional service, elevating our brand, and setting us apart in the competitive hospitality landscape.
It was therefore important to us to ask our people what are the habits that define excellence for them:
“Excellence lies in the importance of continually surpassing norms and aiming for the highest standards of performance”.
Agapi Strataki, F&B Manager at Minos Palace Hotel & Suites
“Excellence as leaving work every day feeling a sense of accomplishment and joy. It’s about finding satisfaction in what we do, a sentiment echoed by all members of the team”.
Eleni Kertou, HR Assistant
“Excellence surpasses mere expectations. It’s a commitment to continuous improvement, knowledge, innovation, and evolution across all levels”.
Stratos Patsakis, General Manager of Minos Beach Art Hotel and Minos Palace Hotel & Suites
“Excellence is the driving force behind personal and professional growth. It’s about setting goals, innovating, and finding happiness in our professional and personal lives daily”.
Harry Chrysicopoulos, Hotel Manager, Life Gallery athens
Guiding principles for bluegr have always been our values, such as Passion, Ethos, Accountability and Justice, whereas the pillars of our overarching vision for excellence have always included sustainability, digital transformation, as well as the support and promotion of contemporary art and our local communities. Lifelong learning, passing on the torch to the next generation, is ingrained in the fabric of our family business. By staying true to our mission, vision, and values, we continue to learn on this journey of innovation.
Further, our standard operating procedures (SOPs) together with our KPIs dashboard serve as the blueprint for translating these guiding principles and pillars into tangible actions, providing a framework for consistency and efficiency across all our operations.
And the habits of Excellence continue:
“Excellence is consistency and dedication to our mission and vision. It’s the passion and dedication of our team towards hospitality that sets us apart”.
Victoria Michaelidou, Chief People and Culture Officer
“Excellence in joy, optimism, positive thinking, and love for life and those around us—a sentiment that infuses our guest experience”.
Nikos Karkanias, Operations Manager, Minos Beach art hotel
“Excellence is the opposite of mediocrity. It’s the culmination of a mission fulfilled repeatedly by individuals driven by love, passion, and exceptionalism”.
Eleni Kallergi, Control Officer, Candia Park village
“Excellence is about consistently offering our best selves, aiding others, and leaving a positive impact on the world around us—a mission we embrace wholeheartedly”.
Elena Stamati, Brand Manager
“Excellence is about setting the standard for our competitors while ensuring both our guests and staff leave with smiles on their faces”.
Giannis Avramakis, Manager, Candia Park village
For bluegr Hotels and Resorts, excellence isn’t just a destination; it’s the journey we embark on daily. It’s the sum of our efforts, our commitment to philoxenia, and the unwavering dedication to exceeding expectations, and continuing to set the benchmark in luxury hospitality. With our eyes set firmly on the horizon, we remain steadfast in our belief – as stated by Aristotle – that “excellence is not an act, but a habit”.
“Excellence doesn’t demand anything but desires everything”.
Lilian Madena, Control Officer, Life Gallery athens hotel
Photoshoot from EFQM Award Ceremony took place at Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry (A.C.C.I), on 24.11.2022.
From left to right, Mr. Nikos Vasiliou, President of INBIAN BoD, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Christos Staikoura, Ms. Victoria Michailidou, HR Manager bluegr Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Konstantinos Dimitiades, Chief Salses & Marketing Officer, Dr. Ioannis Bertsatos, CEO INBIAN