The MK Hotel Collection is hard at work expanding its beachfront and beachside luxury offerings with the development of a fourth all-suites project adjacent to Minoan Civilization finds of incalculable importance. Are these developments in the best interest of Cretans, Greeks, or the world community?
Maria Karatzi’s hotel brand’s developments are ambitious and, to a degree, regenerative tourism. However, such robust expansion developments as the Sentido Unique Blue Resort and the Cicada Seascape Experience threaten Crete Island in ways few understand.
Discovery, Possibility, and Decay
I was at Amnissos Beach yesterday to take in the sea air and revisit the tiny but iconic House of the Lillies, discovered by Dr. Spyridon Marinatos, a ruin overlooking the Cretan Sea. Last year, I noted new construction adjacent to this monumental place on Crete. Seeing the new “villas” nearing completion against the backdrop of neglected Greek historic treasures saddened me. There always seems to be plenty of investment in seaside swimming pools and buffet barns but very little investment in the real treasures of Crete. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Maria Karatzi is the sister of Antonios Karatzis, CEO of the Karatzis Group of Companies, which owns everything from energy production endeavours to various packaging subsidiaries, factories, and luxury hospitality properties like Nana Princess Resort. I’ve no space to profile these siblings or their distinguished father, Miltiadis Karatzis, but the split between Maria Karatzi and the Karatzis Group is worth mentioning.
As MK Hotel Collection draws nearer to exceeding 460 rooms and more than 1,000 beds in Crete, the people in charge of Crete Island’s development need to begin to look at these large seafront and seaside developments, and especially where yet undiscovered Greek (Keftiu/Minoan)) antiquities are concerned.
Stop Destructive Development
Last year, out of concern voiced by an archaeologist friend of mine, I contacted the Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion to ask about the efficacy of the work done at Maria Karatzi’s Pnoe Breathing Life and Cicada Suites and Villas developments. I was assured that all due diligence had been undertaken to ensure these developments were not damaging Crete’s unparalleled antiquities, which were still buried beneath sites such as Amnisos. Given the location of these properties and the limited budget of the Culture Ministry, I found it difficult to believe any extensive survey had been done.
Each of these properties flanks an elevated bluff with a sizeable Minoan temple. Subsequent Greek and Byzantine structures covered this ruin, which was probably wiped out of history by the 1620 Thera eruption and ensuing tsunamis. Again, I diverge into subjects far too deep to discuss here. Suffice it to say that the original properties Maria Karatzi bought to create these new resorts could have buried forever pieces of Crete’s history of inestimable worth. I am sure of this because of a plea I got from one of the world’s top authorities on Minoan/Keftiu archaeology. My friend, who shall go forever unnamed, begged me, “Stop then, Phil, they are destroying the Island.”
There are unarguable precedents for what I am suggesting here. The best is the Early Minoan (EM II) city of Kydonia, which is currently beneath Chania. There are many other examples, but one look at Google Maps will reveal the proximity of monumental Minoan palaces/temples and other significant ruins. Another perfect example is just East of Amnissoss, where Aquis Arina Sand Resort was built right in front of an ancient Minoan shipyard. One can travel down the coastline of Crete and find a hundred places where developments infringed upon ancient treasures.
Our Sacred Duty
My biggest problem with this is not simply the fact that money can buy anything; it’s the lack of investment or contribution to what is extant by these wealthy hoteliers and other business people. In the photos supplied, the House of the Lillies is a tiny fraction of what is falling into decay because leaders are more focused on tourist numbers and filling beds and more interested in construction projects than preserving Crete’s unique heritage.
I am aware of this firsthand, having presented plans for them to profit from the renovation of villages, the preservation of legends, and the undertaking of truly regenerative tourism practices. Karatzis Group was one of the entities I pitched ideas to, and their junior bozo manager never bothered to ask what was in it for me. I had no monetary scheme for myself, as per usual. The man in the corner office with six communication devices in front of him never bothered to email me, saying, “Hell no.”
As for Maria Karatzi’s Pnoe manager, he was about as friendly as a sun-baked King Cobra when I wanted to report on the hotel’s Thimeses by Peskesi restaurant. I know the owner of Peskesi is heavily involved in regenerative agriculture, so I intended to pitch the story to my editors in New York. Well, I was not exactly welcomed to Fantasy Island. Mr Big Resort Boss (I forgot his name on purpose) sent me photos from their website (which I already had), leaving it at that.
There’s media expertise, marketing, and PR for you. Karatsi’s properties must be 80% booked by TUI buffet hounds, given that you can book the hotel much cheaper at TUI than on the hotel’s website. (€213 pp versus €346.20 for Breeze Suite w/Private Pool).
Finally, some readers may feel I have a vendetta against the Karatzis family operations. All I can say is that your “Spidey Senses” are intact. But my war on Crete (and Greece) hoteliers is not limited to one family. It’s the system that is the problem. If you have enough dough, you can do whatever you want in most parts of the world. This is a given. It should be out sacred duty as citizens of this world to prevent unbridled development from ruining our past, present, and future.
What burns me is when these privateers pretend to be doing something to help the rest of us, the environment, the culture, and the future of our children. I would have more respect for them if they just issued press releases saying how excellent their 4* hotel that claims to be a 5* luxury experience is all about getting your money. Period.
We will start booking some of these resorts via TUI and other sites to offer up-close reviews from our consumer advocacy penchant. This is how I began my writing career, evaluating the brilliant from the BS. Stay on your toes, antiquities crushers; that’s the best I can do for my archaeologist friend who cares.