Domes Zeen CHANIA Inspired by the Greek concept of Ef Zeen, Domes Resorts’ Cretan outpost delivers a soulful take on the Mediterranean escape. Words: Matt Turner • Photography: © George Fakaros
L
ocated in Chania on the Greek island of Crete, Domes Zeen originally opened for its first full season in summer 2019, as the first family-friendly outpost of Casa Cook
– the boho-chic resort concept launched in 2018 by Thomas Cook with adult-only hotels in Kos and Rhodes. How things have changed in the intervening twelve months. In September 2019, Thomas Cook collapsed dramatically. Such sights are becoming more commonplace now in the advent of Covid-19, but back then, the sudden grounding of planes and cancellation of bookings, with countries scrambling to repatriate stranded travellers, was a rare and shocking occurrence. The fallout left a number of hotels owned, part-owned or franchised by Thomas Cook facing uncertain futures. Hotel investment had been a relatively recent diversion for the company, traditionally a tour operator, and most of the properties were held by Thomas Cook Hotel Investments Ltd in a joint venture with Swiss investment company LMEY. This afforded a degree of insulation from the parent company’s perilous financial state, and just before the liquidation of Thomas Cook Group, the investment fund was renamed Westfort Capital, distancing it further. Inevitably, given the sprawling nature of the group’s interests, the subsequent restructuring, including its hotel
116
