Crowne Moments 2017 / 2018 by Crowne Plaza Limassol, Cyprus

Lifestyle Fashion Forward: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot. Business Successful Cypriot Start-Ups Culture Cypriot Cuisine Navigator

ISSUE 6 | 2017-2018

E a r n yo u r n E x t h o l i day W i t h yo u r E y E s c lo s E d. Earn IHGÂŽ Rewards Club points for every stay, to redeem at over 5,000 hotels worldwide.

CONTENTS ISSUE 6 | 2017-2018

Welcome from the General Manager La Brezza: Presenting Our New Menu The Oval Room: Innovative Meetings

05 06 12

BUSINESS

Successful Cypriot Start-Ups Business Innovation: Basil Leaf Technologies Responsible Business: Equal Opportunity Employer Business Development: A History of IHG

16 18 21 22

CULTURE

The Streetlife Festival Cypriot Cuisine Navigator

28 32

LIFESTYLE

Fashion Forward: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot Healthy Living: Top Fitness Trends for 2017

39 44

OUR STARS

Celebrating Success: Our Stars Athena Makridou: Celebrating 34 Years of Service Tourism Day: Celebrating Our Regular Guests IHG Foundation: Supporting a Great Cause Creating Great Hotels Guests Love

50 54 55 56 58

Limassol Calendar

NEWS!

LIMASSOL CALENDAR

NEWS NEWS

Dear Guests In 2016, Cyprus welcomed more than 3 million tourists, breaking the previous record of 2.69 million set back in 2001. It was a phenomenal year, and it was pleasing to see so much interest being shown in Cyprus by holidaymakers, business travellers, and investors alike. Hoteliers, particularly in Limassol, experienced a “seasonless” year, as high demand continued into what was traditionally considered the “low season”. 2016 was a record year for the Crowne Plaza Limassol with record “guest love” results, and we could not be more proud of the team for their winning performance. Together we achieved a 93% overall score rating on IHG Reviews, an elite Overall Service score on our HeartBeat survey, an IHG Rewards Club Recognition score of 93%, and a Trip Advisor Excellence award for the fifth consecutive year. We believe it’s important to celebrate success, which is why we have chosen to dedicate a section of this edition of Crowne Moments to our stars. More information on promotions, accomplishments and accolades received by members of the Crowne Plaza Limassol team can be found on pages 50 to 57. In a continued effort to drive quality and guest love, we undertook several projects to upgrade our property in 2016 including the installation of internet access points in all guest rooms, to boost our Wi-Fi signal strength. As part of our Green Engage commitment, we also installed additional solar panels to heat our water using renewable energy. Finally, having noticed a trend towards smaller meetings packing a stronger punch, we decided to create a new meeting room on the 5th floor suitable for up to 10 delegates, with the aim of helping our business guests achieve their goals more effectively. More information on the Oval Room can be found on page 12. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you - our valued guests and patrons - for trusting us, supporting us, and inspiring us to realise our vision to create Great Hotels Guests Love. We promise to work hard to continue being your hotel of choice when visiting Limassol.

Petros Pierides General Manager

NUOVO AT

Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience on the most spectacular sea view terrace in Limassol. Open daily for lunch and dinner, our friendly team at La Brezza will look after you from start to finish, serving up award-winning dishes packed with flavour and creativity. In May 2017 we launched a new menu. Must-haves include Chef Z’s succulent Veal Chop, aromatic Lobster Linguini and signature Amaretto Crème Brûlée.

Scallops Seared scallops served on a bed of wasabi pea purĂŠe, caramelised beetroot and chili-orange sauce.

White Grouper Pan-roasted Mediterranean white grouper served with a creamy roasted beetroot risotto, glazed fennel and refreshing slices of orange.

Veal Chop Grilled veal chop marinated in mixed spices, served with potato purĂŠe, steamed vegetables and herb butter.

ITALIAN BY THE SEA Enjoy al fresco dining by the sea at our award-winning Italian restaurant. CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL | RESERVATIONS: 25 851443

The latest addition to our meeting and event facilities at the Crowne Plaza Limassol, the Oval Room is a th brand-new meeting space located on the 5 floor. The Oval Room boasts a prime view of the Oval, one of Limassolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most iconic modern buildings, designed by London-based consultancy, Atkins. Suitable for meetings of up to 10 delegates, the Oval Room has

BOOK YOUR MEETING TODAY: 25-851515 | functions@cplimassol.com

been designed to facilitate fun, productive and innovative meetings. The walls are decorated with quotes from industry leaders and business gurus, with the aim of creating an inspiring space where delegates can really think outside the box and generate great ideas that have power to transform the way their businesses operate.

BUSINESS

SUCCESSFUL

CYPRIOT START-UPS

Proto.io Founded by Cypriots Alexis Piperides and Alexis Odysseos, Proto.io is an industry leading prototyping platform which gives designers, entrepreneurs, and developers the power to create pixel-perfect web and mobile app prototypes that look and feel like the real thing. The idea for proto.io was first conceived in Cyprus, while its founders were running a web and mobile design agency. Unable to find a solution to help their design team validate ideas and share them with customers without coding, Piperides and Odysseos decided to create one. Headquartered in San Francisco since 2013, customers include major corporations like Disney, PayPal, amazon.com, ESPN and the BBC.

Avocarrot Avocarrot is one of the leading programmatic native ad exchanges for mobile publishers. By combining real-time bidding technology and automatic traffic optimization, Avocarrot is an all-in-one platform for optimizing and monitoring mobile ad revenue. Currently based in Athens and in San Francisco, Avocarrotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founders are Cypriot and include, Panos Papageorgiou, George Eracleous, George Makkoulis, and Conno Christou (pictured left). In September 2016, Avocarrot was acquired by Glispa Global Group, one of largest mobile ad tech companies in the world, for a reported $20 million.

Diyful Founded by Christophoros Tzirtzipis, Antonis Poupazis and Charis Charalambous, Cypriot start-up Diyful is a web and mobile platform offering innovative tools to help take the hard work out of do-it-yourself. The platform gives DIYers access to useful information on the types of tools and materials needed to complete a specific job, how much they will cost and where they can be purchased. The website acts as an aggregator for experts, and a project management tool for DIYers. Visitors can ask for advice or hire an expert in case a project goes south. 17

BUSINESS INNOVATION

Julia Harris, Dr. Basil Harris, Dr. Harry Harris, Dr. Constantine (Gus) Harris and George Harris.

Basil Leaf Technologies is a US-based company, founded in March 2013 by Cypriot brothers Dr. Basil Harris and George Harris, with the aim of developing medical diagnostic and monitoring tools. Basil Leaf Technologies formed the Final Frontier Medical Devices team to design and develop a medical tricorder device for the global Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE competition. From a field of over 300 teams, Basil Leaf Technologies was awarded the First Place Achievement Award by the XPRIZE Foundation and received over $3 million to develop their device, called DxtER.

DxtER™ DxtER is a sophisticated diagnostic engine which uses a combination of algorithms and actual patient data to prove the concept that illnesses can be diagnosed and monitored in the comfort of one’s own home by consumers without medical training. The team developed algorithms for diagnosing 34 health conditions including diabetes, atrial fibrillation, urinary tract infection, sleep apnoea, leucocytosis, pertussis, stroke, tuberculosis and pneumonia. The development of DxtER also involved the creation of a collection of non-invasive sensors, custom-designed to collect data about a person’s vital signs, body chemistry, and biological functions. The system pulls together data from a patient’s personal and family medical history, physical exam, and multiple sensors, to make a quick and accurate assessment.ti

RESPONSIBLE

BUSINESS CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL INVITED TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AFTER RECEIVING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER CERTIFICATION Between 2010 and 2015, the Department of Labour Relations undertook the task of implementing a project titled “Actions for Reducing the Gender Pay Gap”. The project was co-financed by the European Social Fund with the express purpose of combating the root causes that create and sustain the gender pay gap. Amongst the broad mix of measures introduced was the establishment of a Gender Equality Certification Body, responsible for evaluating enterprises as regards the incorporation and implementation of best practices relating to equal treatment and/or equal pay principles in the workplace. Two kinds of certifications were to be provided by the Gender Equality Certification Body, one for implementing a “good practice relating to equal treatment and/or equal pay” and a complete certification for “Equality Employers”. On 28 May 2015, the Crowne Plaza Limassol was certified as an “Equality Employer” at an award ceremony presented by the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, Zeta Emilianidou. Two years later, we were invited back to share the best practices which led to our certification with other

local companies at the annual Pancyprian HR Managers Conference. The conference took place on 24 May 2017, at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia, under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance. The Crowne Plaza Limassol hotel was represented by Elsie Pericleous, our HR Manager and certified Equality Consultant, who gave a speech on how to achieve equality in the workplace, sharing best practices on how companies can help employees balance their work and personal life.

“Having dedicated a lot of time and effort to receive the Equal Opportunity Employer certification, it certainly felt gratifying to be recognised for our achievement. Receiving the Equal Opportunity Employer certification was one of our responsible business goals for 2015, and I feel proud that I was able to contribute to the success of the company. We achieved our targets and created a fairer work environment for the Crowne Plaza Limassol team. It was the right thing to do, and I believe we have gained a competitive advantage, as we are now in a stronger position to attract talent and drive loyalty.”

ELSIE PERICLEOUS | HR MANAGER CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL 21

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

IHG® is one of the world’s leading hotel companies with a presence in almost 100 countries. We became a standalone company in 2003, but our business and broad portfolio of hotel brands have a much longer history. 1777 Our story begins when

William Bass opens a brewery in Burton-on-Trent, UK. The business later transforms from domestic brewer into global hospitality company.

1949 The first InterContinental

hotel opens in Belem, Brazil. The InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts brand expands to become the world’s first truly international luxury hotel brand and Bass acquires it in 1998.

1952 Businessman Kemmons

1983 The Crowne Plaza®

1960s Bass becomes one of

1989 After legislation passes

Wilson opens the first Holiday Inn® brand launches with a focus on hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. He business travellers. had the idea while on a family trip to Washington D.C., where he saw the need for comfortable and affordable places for families to stay. Bass acquires the international part of the business in 1988 and the North American division in 1990.

the largest brewers and pub owners in the UK through acquisitions of well-known regional brewing companies, including Mitchells & Butlers in 1961, and a merger with Charringtons in 1967.

limiting the number of tied pubs major brewers can own, Bass significantly cuts its pub estate and increases investment in an international hotel business.

1991 Bass launches limited

service brand, Holiday Inn Express®.

1997Bass launches Staybridge

Suites® by Holiday Inn in the North American upscale extended stay market. It sells its North American midscale hotel buildings, but retains control of their branding through franchise agreements.

2003 On 1 October, 2002,

Six Continents PLC announces the separation of its hotels and soft drinks businesses (to be called InterContinental Hotels Group PLC) from the retail business (to be called Mitchells & Butlers PLC). This is completed on 15 April 2003 and IHG becomes a standalone company.

2004 IHG launches its new

1999 Bass strengthens its UK

1994 Bass buys the Browns

restaurant and Harvester chains, and develops its O’Neill’s and All Bar One brands.

1995 Extended-stay hotel

brand, Candlewood Suites®, is founded and becomes the first hotel brand to offer free guest laundry. IHG acquires it in 2003.

1996 Bass renews its focus on

hotels and pubs after an attempt to acquire half of the Carlsberg-Tetley brewing business is blocked by the British government. It sells its leased pub arm and smaller businesses such as Gala bingo and Coral bookmakers.

pub division with the acquisition of 550 sites from Punch Taverns.

boutique hotel brand, Hotel Indigo®, with each property designed to reflect the local culture and history of the surrounding area.

2000 Bass confirms its

position as Asia Pacific’s leading hotel company with acquisition of Southern Pacific Hotels Corporation in Australia. It buys US-based hotel management company, Bristol Hotels & Resorts Inc. It further refocuses the business from domestic brewing operation to global hospitality company by selling Bass Brewers to Interbrew (now AB-InBev) for £2.3 billion.

2001 Bass PLC is renamed

Six Continents PLC. The group sells almost 1,000 unbranded pubs and buys the European Posthouse chain of hotels, converting most of them to Holiday Inn properties and consolidating the brand’s position in the UK and Europe.

2005 IHG sells its 100% holding

in Britvic Plc to focus purely on hotels. The Staybridge Suites® brand launches in the UK following its success in North America.

2007 IHG announces a $1 billion 2012 IHG launches EVEN®

relaunch of the Holiday Inn Brand Family, comprising Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Holiday Inn Resort® is launched in 2008, offering the perfect destination for family fun.

Hotels, the first mainstream hotel brand focused on wellness and fulfilling the demand for healthier travel.

2013 Priority Club Rewards,

launched in 1983 and the industry’s largest and oldest loyalty programme, is relaunched as IHG® Rewards Club.

2015 IHG acquires US based

Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants. Alongside IHG’s Hotel Indigo brand, the deal creates the world’s largest boutique hotel business.

2008 IHG enters the timeshare

market with the launch of Holiday Inn Club Vacations®. This was done through an alliance with Orange Lake Resorts, which was set up by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson.

IHG unveils HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, the first upscale international hotel brand designed specifically for the Chinese traveller.

IHG opens its 5,000th hotel, the Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York.

2017 Kimpton De Witt in

Amsterdam is the first Kimpton hotel to open in Europe and the first outside the Americas, with a second hotel scheduled to open in Paris in 2020.

WE’LL MAKE IT TRULY MEMORABLE. THAT’S OUR WEDDING VOW. After all, it’s all about trust. Book an appointment with the Crowne wedding planner today.

Cyprus citizenship by investment At KPMG, our guiding philosophy is to provide our clients with the highest-quality service. We have a fully dedicated team that provides specialized assistance and step by step guidance in applying for the Cyprus citizenship during the entire process from the filing of the application through to the approval and issuance of the Cypriot passport.

For more information please contact: Costas Markides Board Member, International Tax Services Primary Contact T: +357 22 209 246/189 E: cmarkides@kpmg.com Michalis Loizides Board Member, International Tax Services T: +357 25 869 160 E: mloizides@kpmg.com Michael Halios Board Member, International Tax Services T: +357 24 200 222 E: mhalios@kpmg.com

kpmg.com.cy

©2017 KPMG Limited, a Cyprus limited liability company and member of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (”KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

Â© Karina Leonenko

CULTURE

Artist: ARSEK - ERASE from BULGARIA / Photo: Alaskas Productions Artist: KING RAPTUZ from ITALY / Photo: Alaskas Productions

STREET

LIFE

enko

What makes the Street Life Festival so special? A decade ago, when the idea for the festival was first conceived, the local community had a very different relationship with graffiti than it does today. Cyprus residents thought graffiti was an eye-sore, limited to a series of football slogans and political messages smeared on walls, defacing public property. This perception has gradually shifted, and the Street Life Festival was enko

The Street Life Festival was organised for the first time in 2007. At the time, the Old Town was temporarily transformed into a large building site due to the construction of the sprawling CUT (Cyprus University of Technology) campus. Amidst the construction chaos, Yiotis Kyriakou resident, small business owner and devoted fan of the Old Town – was inspired to plan the first festival, inviting graffiti artists to bring life and beauty back to the streets by creating art on the protective panels which demarcated the construction site on Athinon street. This open-air gallery continues to decorate

Athinon street to this day. Painted afresh every year during the Street Life Festival, Athinon street is one of the most beautiful and interesting streets in Limassol, and well-worth a visit. 2C Design Box is the studio behind these beautiful works of graffitiart, and has been co-organising the festival for the last three years. We caught up with Christos Kyriakou, founding member of 2C Design Box and graffiti artist, to understand what makes the Street Life Festival so special…

enko © Karina Leon

One of Limassol’s favourite festivals, «Street Life» takes place every May. Crowds flock to the narrow streets of the Old Town to watch artists create imaginative works of graffitiart on Athinon street, listen to local musicians perform live from the square, and buy trinkets from designers who set up shop on the pavements along Saripolou street.

nko © Karina Leone

vital towards achieving this transformation in public opinion. The Street Life Festival was the first of its kind in Cyprus, and to this day, the open-air graffiti gallery on Athinon street remains the largest collection of urban art in a single space in Cyprus. The festival may only last a day, but local residents enjoy the art all year round. From spontaneous selfies to alternative wedding photoshoots, we see locals and tourists alike, taking photos and engaging with the art throughout the year.

I am pleased to say that the Street Life Festival has already made a name for itself internationally. This year we had participants from Italy, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Russia and Latvia. We would like to see the festival continue to grow. This might mean working with the Limassol municipality and the local community to extend the area in which the festival takes place, and make more walls available to graffitiartists. We also have some cool decoration and design ideas that could really wow visitors, but to implement these ideas and grow we need support…and sponsors!

Artist: EDMON 1419_NLS from CYPRUS / Photo: Alaskas Productions

What’s next for the Street Life Festival?

What’s the best thing that has come out of the Street Life Festival? Quite a few great things have come out of the festival. However, if I had to pick one, it would be the fact that a few years ago, the Ministry of Education approved a middle-school class in ‘Graffiti, Photography and Fashion’. When I was growing up, there were no graffiti classes available. In fact, until about a decade ago, professional spray paint wasn’t even sold in Cyprus. Today, graffiti is on the public school curriculum as an optional module, and I am pleased to say that a few schools have chosen to offer it. I am currently teaching at the Polemidia gymnasium, and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see my students so excited about graffiti. Organisers: The Copy Shop - Gifts & Gadgets and 2C DESIGN BOX

CYPRIOT CUISINE NAVIGATOR Each culture has its own culinary rule book. Over the years, several countries have developed a reputation for using specific condiments to season and flavour their dishes, either while cooking or after the dish has been served. The French use Dijon mustard, the British love brown sauce as much as Mexicans love chipotle and the Chinese gave the world Oyster sauce. To help you begin navigating the rich culinary landscape of Cyprus, we would like to introduce you to three staple condiments which are indispensable to any Cypriot household: lemons, olive oil and yogurt.

LEMONS Lemons have been cultivated in Cyprus since the 13th century. While the mild climate in Cyprus is generally favourable for the cultivation of a wide range of citrus fruit, historically Cypriot lemons have stood out in terms of quality, characterised by their distinctive thin-skin, fleshiness and fragrant scent. Cypriots use lemons extensively in food preparation and as a garnish for salads, meat and fish dishes alike. Many Cypriot households even grow lemon trees in their backyard, while the pavements in many residential areas are also lined with lemon trees, to ensure fresh lemons are readily available to accompany every meal. Lemons contain a substantial amount of vitamin C, fibre, potassium and phytochemicals, and are believed to carry a whole host of health benefits relating to immunity, heart health, kidney health and even cancer prevention.

LOVE LEMON? We recommend trying grilled fresh fish, which in Cyprus is always served with plenty of ÂŤladolemonoÂť, olive oil with lemon. Our Catch of the Day dish is available to order at La Brezza, the Lounge Bar and Med Pool Bar. 33

OLIVE OIL Olive oil is the cornerstone of the famous Mediterranean diet which boasts a longer life expectancy and, in recent years, has become the envy of other regions across the globe. Cyprus has a long tradition of producing olive oil, evidenced by the discovery of olive presses in settlements which date back to the 13th century BC. Olive oil is mainly comprised of monounsaturated fatty acids, a healthier type of fat which reduces total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, while raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol levels. Extra virgin olive oil in particular, contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, vitamin E, vitamin K, chlorophyll and carotenoid, which contribute significantly towards strengthening the immune system.

At the Crowne Plaza Limassol, the olive oil we cook with and serve at the hotel is virgin olive oil produced at our farm in Akaki, a village in the Nicosia district. If you are a fan of olives, we also recommend trying «elies tsakistes» which are available daily on our breakfast buffet. «Elies tsakistes» are crushed olives marinated in coriander seeds, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.

YOGURT The last five years or so have seen the world enamoured with Greek yogurt. By and large, Greek yogurt is yogurt which has been strained to remove its watery whey, resulting in a thicker consistency and a distinctively sour taste. Fitness enthusiasts in particular, have embraced strained yogurt as a high-protein snack, as it typically contains twice the amount of protein found in regular yogurt, while also being a good source of calcium and probiotics. Cypriot strained yogurt is just as tasty and is considered to be the perfect companion to most meals. Traditionally, yogurt in Cyprus was produced from sheep’s milk. While authentic sheep’s yogurt can still be purchased today, the majority of yogurt produced and served in Cyprus, is made from cow’s milk. For yogurt enthusiasts, we recommend trying our home-made «tzantziki» - or as it is called in Cyprus «talatouri» - strained yogurt blended with cucumber and garlic. «Tzantziki» is one of the Mediterranean Dips available to order from our All Day Dining menu, as is also served with Chef Z’s Chicken Souvlaki.

RESTA U R AN T BREAKFAST BLISS

WEEKDAYS: 07.00 - 10.30HRS | WEEKENDS: 07.00 - 11.00HRS

LIFESTYLE

129 Georgiou Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, CY-4048 Yermasoyia, Limassol. T: +357 25 318 803 Mnasiadou 11K, 1065, Nicosia. T: +357 22026520 www.splash.com.cy

MARC CAIN/SAGA BOUTIQUE

FASHION FORWARD

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

HOT.

FASHION & ACCESSORIES BY MARC CAIN AT SAGA BOUTIQUE 40

STRIPES According to Roopal Patel, fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, “stripes are the equivalent to what a white t-shirt used to be back in the day...they have nine lives. We’ve seen the trend now for two to three seasons and it will continue to carry forward.”

SHOCKING SHADES OF PINK Shocking shades of pink took the catwalk by storm in 2017. Céline, Balenciaga and Valentino impressed viewers with stunning, bold dresses in various shades of pink: candy pink, baby pink, hot pink and raspberry.

ARTY POP Vibrant, geometric prints dominated catwalks ahead of Spring /Summer 2017, especially the lines of Sonia Rykiel, Chloé and Proenza Schouler.

SEXY SNEAKERS This year, designers have been going all-out on sexy sneakers. Glitter, leopard print, beads, satin and bold colours have all made a striking appearance on the catwalk. Sneakers are a fun, versatile, easy-to-wear item, which can instantly snazz up an outfit. The consensus seems to be that one can never have too many sexy sneakers.

JUMP SUITS

From evening glamour to daytime cool, jumpsuits are appearing on the catwalk every summer as a seasonal staple. HermĂ¨s, Isabel Marant and Vanessa Seward have designed killer jumpsuits for Spring/ Summer 2017 which have topped editorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wish lists.

JUMPSUIT BY ALEXANDRA LONG 42

HIDE AND SEEK JUMPSUIT BY ALEXANDRA LONG

Dior, Lanvin and McQueen nailed the elusive power of suggestion on the catwalk in 2017. Black sheet textures and subtle cut-outs revealing a hint of what lies beneath, titillated the imagination and left the crowd wanting more. 43

HEALTHY LIVING

TOP

FITNESS TRENDS FOR 2017

Body Weight Training

Body weight exercises are strength training exercises that do not require the use of free weights or machines. All you need to start body weight training is yourself, which explains why body weight training has become so popular in recent years. Body weight exercises are relatively easy to learn, they can be modified to suit any ability level, they can be done just about anywhere and - most importantly - theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re free. Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges and planks are some of the most well-known body weight moves. 2

HIIT

High-intensity interval training workouts are an effective way to torch calories fast. HIIT is all about alternating between quick bursts of high-intensity

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: EXERCISE exercise and short periods of rest, and can be found in all types of workouts, from Pilates to CrossFit. With HIIT, DIY is also an option. Spend 20 to 30 minutes combining repeated short bursts of exercise with short breaks. For example, 45 seconds of exercise on the leg press with 15 seconds of rest, followed by 45 seconds of crunches with 15 seconds of rest, followed by 45 seconds of one knee kickbacks, and so on. 3

GROUP TRAINING

Heard of CrossFit, SoulCycle and the Hundred? They are all forms of group training, a huge fitness trend that will continue to thrive in 2017 and beyond. In addition to providing more affordable access to personal attention from a qualified trainer, group training is also hugely popular because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very sociable form of exercise and a great way to meet likeminded people with a similar schedule to your own. 46

MEMBERSHIPS Need a home away from home where you can relax, socialise and exercise? Become a member today from €60 per month on annual pre-paid subscriptions.

..there is always a great company!

MEDCON CONSTRUCTION LTD

Tel. +357 22 265000 â&#x2013; Email: info@medcon.com.cy

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Crowne Plaza Limassol | Management Team

OUR STARS. At the Crowne Plaza Limassol we are committed to creating great hotels guests love. In 2017, several members of the team were recognised for their contribution to bringing this vision to life. Join us in celebrating their success. We could not be more proud of their professional growth and winning performance.

PROMOTED TO F&B SERVICE MANAGERS XENOFON TSIFTIS After graduating with an MSc in Public Policy & Economics from the University of Maastricht, and with 3 years of experience with the Four Seasons under his belt, Xenofon joined the team in 2016, as an F&B Trainee Manager.

PROKOPIS ANTONIOU After graduating with a degree in Business Administration from the European University in Cyprus, Prokopis went on to complete his MSc in Management at the CIIM. He joined the team in 2016 as an F&B Trainee Manager.

PROMOTED TO WAITER SUPERVISORS

BNI AWARD

ADRIANA MARIUTA

SLAVI SAKARSKI

KATERINA

CHRISTINA HEPI ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Adriana joined the team in 2013 from the Columbia group and has been offering 5-star service at our Italian à la carte restaurant, La Brezza,

Slavi joined the team in 2007 after receiving a diploma in Hotel & Tourism Management from Intercollege in Cyprus. He has been a star member of the Lounge Bar team since.

Katerina graduated with a BA in Tourist Enterprises from TEI Larissa. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Katerina joined the team from the Le Meridien in 2014.

In January 2016, Christina was awarded the BNI (Business Network International) Networker of the Year Award! We are incredibly proud of Christina for her achievement and for her unwavering commitment to delivering a healthy balance sheet.

ever since.

KOULIANOPOULOU

PROMOTED TO TECHNICIAN B

WELCOME TO THE FRONT OFFICE TEAM

VASILIS LOUCAIDES

GEORGIA ANDREOU

CHRYSANTHOS GEORGIOU

Vasilis is a certified refrigeration technician who joined the team in 2014. Having received an award at our 2016 Star Awards for his One Step Ahead attitude and for always endeavouring to “Do the Right Thing”, Vasilis was subsequently promoted to Technician B.

Georgia joined the team fresh out of college, having graduated in 2016 with a degree in Hotel & Tourism Management. After working at the reception for a few months, she began training in our reservations team, and is off to a fantastic start.

Chrysanthos has been a member of the team since 2015, and was one of our rising stars in the F&B department. Having graduated from Intercollege in June with a degree in Hospitality Management, he has undertaken a new challenge by joining the Front Office team.

AHLEI GRADUATE

KONSTANTINOS DROUSIOTIS REVENUE EXECUTIVE In May 2017, Konstantinos completed a course in “Managing Front Office Operations” with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. We are proud of Konstantinos for his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and for always aiming higher.

CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL STAR AWARDS 2016 DO THE RIGHT THING

WE SHOW WE CARE

Chrysanthos Georgiou | F&B Service Vasilis Loucaides | Maintenance Alex Pittalis | Kitchen

Yanislava Sakazova | Front Office Christoforos Paphitis | F&B Service

WE AIM HIGHER Nicholas Sinainou | Kitchen (HO.RE.CA TEAM) Konstantinos Konstantinou | Kitchen (HO.RE.CA TEAM) Stella Hagga | Kitchen (HO.RE.CA TEAM) Andreas Vasiliou | Kitchen (HO.RE.CA TEAM)

WE WORK BETTER TOGETHER Maria Leonidou | Front Office Vasos Nicolaides | Kitchen

UNSUNG HERO Sotiroulla Georgiou | Housekeeping

IHG REWARDS CLUB CHAMPION Yiannis Iosifakis | Front Office

RISING STARS Andreas Pougioukas | F&B Service Katerina Trushnina | Front Office Efthymios Christodoulou | F&B Service

6165

ATHENA MAKRIDOU Celebrating 34 years of service What makes the hospitality industry so special? If you love people, it’s the perfect industry to be in. You are constantly meeting people from different countries and learning about different cultures. It’s a perpetual learning curve; two days are never the same. I have worked in the hospitality industry since 1973, and at this hotel since 1983. I have never regretted my career choice, and to this day, I wake up and look forward to coming to work.

What is your fondest memory? I have interacted with thousands of guests and, over the years, I have had the pleasure and the privilege to call many of them my friends. In 2013, when Cyprus faced a banking crisis, capital controls meant that local account holders could only transfer limited funds to accounts overseas. At the time, my son was studying in the UK, and we needed to transfer funds to cover his tuition fees and living expenses. I was truly touched by the genuine concern shown

by guests, their willingness to assist in any way that they could, and their offers to send him money until the capital controls were lifted. Their generosity and support during this difficult time was remarkable, and reminded me just how special the relationship we have built over the years really is.

A parting message to guests… Thank you for the trust you have shown me over the years, and for allowing me to organise such significant parts of your lives, whether it was an anniversary, a family holiday or an important business trip. Over the years I have become friends with many of you, and I will always cherish those friendships.

A parting message to colleagues… One of the reasons I enjoyed my job so much over the years was working with you. I have spent 34 years of my life with you and I will miss you dearly. Thank you for the love and respect you have shown me.

“We have worked together for more years than I would care to admit. You are above all a good person, and one of the things I have always admired is your ability to resolve a problem – however pressing – with unwavering professionalism and without losing your cool. Your team love you, and I believe you will be missed by one and all.” Sotiroulla | Linen Keeper

“I am lucky to call you my mentor. You have always been supportive of my professional development in the hotel industry, and more than willing to share your knowledge. You have shown me what it means to be a kind, compassionate, fair, honest and responsible manager. You never failed to step in and handle tough situations. Throughout my career, I will endeavour to follow in your footsteps, especially when it comes to guests; your warm welcome, your professional approach and your genuine concern for their welfare. You are a very special lady.” Konstantinos Drousiotis | Revenue Executive

“A beacon of knowledge, your door was always open no matter the reason, and you made us feel safe. You always say: «ουδείς αντικατάστατος» (no-one is irreplaceable). But yours are hard shoes to fill, and you will be dearly missed. Thanks for everything!” The Front Office Team

tourism day On the occasion of Tourism Day on 26.09.2016, we hosted a celebratory lunch in honour of our regular guests who have been visiting the hotel for several decades. The event took place at our award-winning Italian restaurant La Brezza, where we treated our regular guests to a delicious three course meal, and shared stories about the hotel and about Cyprus – their home away from home – dating back to the early eighties. Following the event, Petros Pierides, our General Manager said: “It is such a pleasure to welcome our regular guests back year after year. Several of them have been spending their summer holidays with us every year since the hotel first opened back in 1979, sometimes visiting twice in one summer. Even though we changed the hotel’s name a few times over the years – from Churchill Limassol to Holiday Inn Limassol to Crowne Plaza Limassol – our loyal guests have always managed to find their way back to us. Our current record holders, with over 35 visits, include Anne and Lynn Wickert, Lady Rowse, Jeanne Millington, Martha and Matt Hermans, Shirley and Phillip Taylor, and Robert Taylor. A special mention goes out to our youngest regular guest – Jenny Higham – who at 31 has more visits to Cyprus under her belt than birthdays. The hotel just wouldn’t be the same without them. They are certainly part of the family here at the Crowne Plaza Limassol.”

Launched in February 2016, the IHG® Foundation runs as an independent charity, and focuses its activities on four key areas: helping communities to develop skills in hospitality, providing support for those impacted by disasters, facilitating local community investment, and protecting the environment. The Crowne Plaza Limassol team contributed to the IHG Foundation in 2016 by organising two team events: a blood donation and a mini-football game. We also joined IHG hotels from around the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for «the most pillowcases stuffed in one minute». Individual team members also made personal pledges relating to energy-saving and physical fitness. For each act of participation, IHG donated $1 to the IHG Foundation. Globally, more than 120,000 colleagues took part in 81 countries, and over $350,000 was raised. Proceeds raised from the Crowne Plaza Limassol were donated to the British Red Cross. 56

CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL CYPRUS HOTEL | IHG FOUNDATION WEEK

For more information on the IHG® Foundation and the support it is providing for community projects with a lasting impact, please visit www.ihgfoundation.com

GREAT HOTELS GUESTS LOVE “It is a perfect vacation environment, hard to imagine what could have been done better. We appreciate staff help and responsiveness, they work really hard to make time spent at the hotel unforgettable. Thanks a lot!” SPIRE MEMBER, ROOM 512, MAY 2017

Great Hotels Guests Love. At the Crowne Plaza Limassol we put our guests at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to provide our guests with a great experience, whether they are on a demanding business trip or visiting Cyprus for a relaxing beach holiday. In 2017, we received some very encouraging comments from guests on social media and review sites. Thank you for your encouragement, trust, and support.

“The hotel location is excellent, all the staff are so helpful, make you feel welcome, and will assist you in any way they can. The rooms are very comfortable, and sea view rooms extremely beautiful. The terraces are wonderful, and dining options very good. We stayed in to dine 19 out of 21 nights. Hotel gardens are very well kept...The beach is very well kept, and cleaned and brushed every morning. Beautiful outdoor pool, and indoor pool and gym...Good entertainment every night.” PLATINUM MEMBER, ROOM 406, MAY 2017 “Friendly and professional service; comfortable, attractive and well-equipped room; excellent location.” CLUB MEMBER, ROOM 118, MAY 2017 “Baby’s first holiday was made easy by CP in Limassol. The Crowne Plaza in Limassol was a great hotel because

93%

Recommendation Rate on IHG Reviews of the amazing staff. From the moment we arrived they treated us warmly and went above and beyond to ensure we were happy. They helped me heat baby food and helped me with luggage plus a buggy. All the staff throughout the hotel where smiling and happy to help. We felt so relaxed here and our baby girl had the best time. We want to come back here with her again and see all the staff again, as they made us feel so welcome. The location and accessibility for a small baby is great, and everything is on your doorstep. It’s very family friendly and adults can have fun too with a cool bar and lots of cool drinks and bar snacks.” CLUB MEMBER, ROOM 222, MARCH 2017

Comfortable facilities KRISHNA, CLUB MEMBER, ROOM 509 (23/4/17) “Very helpful and welcoming staff. Excellent atmosphere and pleasant evening in the lounge with piano.”

Excellent staff and service SOULPAR, SPIRE ELITE MEMBER, ROOM 511 (23/4/17)

Rated ‘ELITE’ for Overall Service ‘HeartBeat’ 2016 guest survey

“A very nice place to relax and enjoy very good and friendly service. Make sure to enjoy a dinner at La Brezza.”

Great place for a vacation IVANWAR, CLUB MEMBER, ROOM 321 (23/4/17) “Place is clean and an amazing view to the ocean. Great service.” 59

Take a moment to discover Limassol and everything it has to offer... Latin Fever | June - September 2017

Wine Festival | September 2017 Known as the wine capital of Cyprus, Limassol hosts the Wine Festival at the Municipal Gardens. Visitors can enjoy a variety of wines and traditional food, folkloric dances and music over a twelve day period.

Cyprus International Food Festival | September 2017 CIFF2017 strives to showcase the diverse culinary landscape of Cyprus which has long been considered a crossroads of continents and cultures, where East meets West. Over 20 chefs representing cuisines from different countries and a party atmosphere will welcome visitors with music and food tasting, for what promises to be a delicious culinary festival.

Lemesia | May - December 2017 Now running for six months, the festival sees athletes from several countries compete in a variety of sports that include boxing, karate, triathlon, shooting and marathon. During the course of the event, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lemesiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; themed photo competition will be held by the Cyprus Photography Club.

Limassol Carnival February 2018 The most exciting time of the year, Carnival celebrations last for 10 days (8th - 18th February). The main event is the parade which takes place on the second Sunday.

‘Cyprus Gran Fondo’ VW Cyprus Cycling Tour | March 2018 The tour is a 3-day road “Cycling for All” event where professional and amateur riders cycle shoulder to shoulder in the mountains, enjoying the mild Cypriot climate and breath-taking nature.

Limassol Marathon | March 2018

Street Life Festival | May 2018 The Street Life festival attracts over 10,000 people to the historic centre of town. Festivities include live music, and graffiti painting, jugglers, the sale of handicraft items, food and drinks. Everyone is encouraged to join in! “Street Life” has become one of the largest and most anticipated cultural events in Limassol.

The Rose Festival | May 2018 The village of Agros is famous for its cultivation of Damascena roses from which aromatic oil is extracted for use in flavourings, cosmetics, and rose water. The annual Rose Festival features rose-picking and processing demonstrations along with food, music and dancing.

Russian-Cypriot Festival | June 2018 The Russian-Cypriot festival is a two-day event that takes place at the Municipal Gardens. More than seventy Cypriot and Russian companies present their products, while dance groups, musicians and singers from both communities perform.

Cyprus’ official marathon, accredited by the international federations of AIMS and IAAF. The events taking place on 17th - 18th March include a Marathon, Half Marathon, Health Race, Corporate Race and a Children/Student Race. Marathon participants run along the beautiful Limassol coastline.

Visitors have the opportunity to taste a variety of local and imported beers including KEO, Heineken, Beck’s, Amstel and Stella Artois, with great entertainment, DJs and live music.

International Film Festival | April 2018

Amathusia Festival | July 2018

“Cyprus Film Days” has become a much-anticipated annual event that promotes both international and Cypriot filmmakers, screening a number of cinematic masterpieces from around the globe.

The Agios Tychonas Community Board hosts a seaside festival every summer amongst the ancient Amathus ruins, featuring traditional and contemporary dance groups, string quartets and singers.

Anthestiria | May 2018 Anthestiria [Flower Festival] is a traditional festival which features a flower parade and exhibition to celebrate spring and the rebirth of nature and life. The celebration dates back to Ancient Greece.

Cyprus Beer Festival | July 2018

Koumandaria Festival | July 2018 Koumandaria, a famous Cypriot dessert wine first produced during the Crusades, is celebrated every year in numerous villages of the Kourris Valley, one of the main wine-producing regions on the island. 61

CROWNE WEDDINGS

ISSUE 6 | 2017-2018

EDITOR Rebecca Pierides ART DIRECTOR Nadia Georgiou

CROWNE PARTIES

CROWNE CHRISTENINGS

The title and all materials are protected by copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Although the greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the magazine at the time of going to press, the publisher may not be held liable for any omissions or errors.

CROWNE PLAZA LIMASSOL A: 2 Promachon Eleftherias, 4103 Limassol, Cyprus T: +357-25-851515 W: limassol.crowneplaza.com | crowneplaza.com/limassolcyprus E: marketing@cplimassol.com Terms and conditions apply. ©2017 IHG. All rights reserved. Most hotels are independently owned and operated.