Magma Resort Santorini will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio as the first Hyatt-affiliated resort in the Greek Islands.
Hyatt announced on February 8, 2022, that a Hyatt affiliate had entered into a franchise agreement with the resort’s owner, Thera Island Suites S.A. Athens-based SWOT Hospitality will operate the property which is expected to be open in time for the 2022 summer season.
“We are thrilled to work with SWOT Hospitality and are excited to announce The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand’s upcoming entry into the Greek Islands with Magma Resort Santorini,” said Peter Norman, senior vice-president of development for EZME and SWA, Hyatt. “The expansion of our luxury and independent collection brands in popular leisure destinations in Europe plays a central role in our growth strategy as we aim to satisfy the increasing leisure demand from travelers looking for story-worthy experiences.”
Santorini, one of Greece’s most visited islands, has been chosen by the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the European Bank to be a focus area for sustainable tourism.
The 59-key resort will be located on the lava-made slopes of Vourvoulos, close to the lava sand beaches in the northeast part of Santorini and near popular cosmopolitan destinations such as Fira and Oia.
PEOPLE and ELASTIC Architects have been tasked with the resort’s design and architectural development, which will be inspired by the surrounding traditional dwellings—pezoules—and terraced land used for winemaking as well as Santorini’s understand spaces and cave homes.
Amenities at the resort will include a state-of-the-art wellness center and subterranean spa, an event facility for up to 25 guests, and several semi-outdoor spaces and covered walkways to create a balance between the cool interior and warm open air.
“This is a hallmark project for SWOT and for the destination,” says SWOT Hospitality president Stelios Koutsivitis. “As a team, we are passionate about entering into this agreement with Hyatt and are dedicated to creating an authentic, extraordinary and soulful resort that carries the spiritual DNA of Greece.”