![Dina Najia Head of Marketing Bloomberg Television, Iris Folia Mist S.A. , Maira Folia Mist S.A. , Stuart Shield, Chairman Int. Property Awards[15]](https://news.travelling.gr/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Dina-Najia--Head-of-Marketing-Bloomberg-Television-Iris-Folia-Mist-S.A.-Maira-Folia-Mist-S.A.-Stuart-Shield-Chairman-Int.-Property-Awards15-300x199.jpg "Dina Najia Head of Marketing Bloomberg Television, Iris Folia Mist S.A. , Maira Folia Mist S.A. , Stuart Shield, Chairman Int. Property Awards[15]")
‘Cressa Ghitonia by Mist S.A.’, the traditionally restored exclusive luxury hotel in Sfaka village, eastern Crete, received the awards for ‘Best New Small Hotel, Construction and Design in Europe’ and ‘Best New Small Hotel, Construction & Design in Greece’ by the International Hotel Awards, the hotel industry’s most prestigious award programme, in association with Bloomberg Television.
In a gala presentation dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London on January 18, 2012, Cressa Ghitonia by Mist S.A. was presented the award after having outperformed all candidates in the category of New Small Hotels, Construction and Design in Europe and stood out in the competitive European hospitality arena.
The event was part of the International Property Awards, established in 1994 with its award winners’ logo being recognised as a symbol of excellence throughout the global hotel industry. The organisers decided to launch a specific program for the hospitality industry due to an increasing number of entries within its commercial categories.
The judging panel consisted of 20 professionals whose collective knowledge of the hospitality industry is second to none. This year’s panel included Mr. James Bacon, UK account manager of Google; Mr. Peter Crome, managing director of Skibo Castle in Scotland; Mr. Mike McNamara of the Royal Bank of Scotland; Mr. David Dalby of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Ms. Rebecca Johnson of Bloomberg TV (Hotel Section). The judges reported that the quality of submissions this year was making their task of selecting the winners extremely difficult.
Ms. Maira Folia, on behalf of Cressa Ghitonia by Mist S.A. said regarding the award: “It is a great honour for us, Cressa Ghitonia, a Traditional 1800 Cretan Neighbourhood in the village of Sfaka in eastern Crete, to receive the Best New Small Hotel, Construction and Design in Europe award. Greece might be going through difficult times at the moment; however our country still offers its unique beauty and history to the world. All Greek entrepreneurs in all sectors and especially in the tourism industry must do whatever they can and contribute in the effort to lift Greece again to the top, because Greece deserves it and we all deserve it.’
