From Corporate to Cozy: My Journey in the Hospitality Industry

My Journey to Hospitality

After 30 years in the corporate world—working with advertising agencies in Cyprus and London, and holding roles at companies like Rothmans, British American Tobacco, Gateway Computers EMEA, interFRONTIERS, and Nova (Greece)—I chose a new path. What began as a necessity, renting out a holiday home we couldn’t otherwise afford, soon grew into a true passion. With Ithaki House, I discovered my own Ithaca: a place where I could thrive and create something meaningful.

The beauty of hospitality is its immediacy. You know right away if you’ve done well—the smile, the thank you, the expression on a guest’s face says it all. There’s no greater reward than knowing guests feel they made the right choice, loved their stay, and sometimes even booked their next visit before leaving.

Hospitality is never routine. Every guest brings a new story, a new challenge, a new opportunity to create something special. For us, personalization is key. By learning what matters to each guest, we make their stay truly exceptional. Over the past six years, this approach has shaped both Ithaki House and our reputation. I’ve poured my soul into making Ithaki not just a holiday home, but a dream retreat.

People often say, “Ithaki House is…Tis Christina’s to Merakki.”

That makes me proud. Because our guests don’t simply say, “We stayed in an amazing Airbnb.” They say, “We stayed in Ithaki House, a beautiful holiday home in the idyllic village of Meladeia, looked after by Christina and Simos. Before we left, we booked our return. We highly recommend it!”

Along the way, I’ve had the joy of meeting inspiring people and building friendships—not only with guests, but also with locals who support us, and whom we support in return. Few things feel better than walking into a local restaurant and hearing, “We know Ithaki House. Your guests were here a few days ago. Thank you for supporting us!”

In April 2022, it was both a surprise and an honor to be invited to share my hospitality journey at the BNB Conference in Athens. [Read my blog about this experience click here..] [Receive a copy of my presentation click here.]

Thank you for reading my story. I hope our paths cross soon.

Christina

“Ithaki has given you a marvelous journey. Without her you would not have set out.
Wise you have become, so full of experiences…
…with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time.”
— C.P. Cavafy