Testimonial from our franchisees

Costas Papachristophorou shares how Axel turned his hotel into the LGBTQIA+ hotspot of the world's most iconic island, Mykonos.

 

Costas Papachristophorou · CEO of Cosmhotel Group, first franchisee of Axel Hotels

 

  1. In your opinion, what sets Axel Hotels apart from other brands in the hospitality market? 

After having had actually diagnosed that in the island of Mykonos, where -  our company operated a Gay Friendly hotel - there was not and never existed a genuine Gay Only /LGBT hotel, in the most famous Gay international island/destination in the World, we took then the decision of rebranding our hotel and convert it to “a heterofriendly” to cover this “niche market”. 

After a thorough and very careful investigation and market research globally, regarding International Hotel Brands, specialized in this specific field of activities, we finally concluded that AXEL HOTELS would be our first and only priority and the ideal partner to join forces. 

 

  1. What was the process like for opening your hotel under the Axel Hotels brand? 

AXEL HOTELS, although a rather new and small International Hotel Group, has shown incredible and positive reaction and adjustment, to our unknown to them Hotel Product, in a totally new and extremely competitive destination, bringing very positive results from the very first year of collaboration, showing market expertise and clever flexibility and yield management. 

Also, the Reporting back up was extraordinary, resembling to similar ones of those of International Giant Hotel Brands… 

 

  1. How would you describe your relationship with the Axel Hotels team, both before and after the launch? 

The process was very smooth, very well planned, correctly organized and executed, and everything was accurate and according to our mutual “Road Map”. 

 

  1. What impact has the Axel brand had on your day-to-day operations and the positioning of the hotel, and what has been the greatest added value of being part of the Axel universe?  

All the people and Team from AXEL HOTELS, from the CEO to the last employee, have been friendly, kind, efficient, hardworking, easy to communicate, and always eager to help, responding on time to any need or specific request quickly and professionally. 

 

  1. How do you evaluate Axel’s LGBTQIA+ positioning in terms of attracting guests and standing out in the market? 

The AXEL Brand has significantly and positively affected our hotel positioning in the very demanding and competitive Market of the island of Mykonos, especially nowadays that some islands in Greece face occupancy difficulties… 

Although that was the first attempt at franchising with our Company COSMHOTEL, the operation of the hotel was easily and quickly aligned and smoothly established according to the AXEL branding standards and Local demands. 

Personally, I believe that the Greatest Added Value of AXEL HOTELS is nothing…. But their PEOPLE! 

 

  1. What would you say to a hotel owner or investor considering a franchise with Axel Hotels? 

AXEL HOTELS positioning in attracting guests and standing out of the Market is very successful, as it is aimed to the LGBT community that they know well, the People and their specific needs. 

Everyone here feels Equal, Welcome and at Ease! … 

 

  1. And finally, would you choose to franchise with Axel Hotels again? Why? 

TO GO FOR IT! … Franchising with AXEL HOTELS is easy, worthwhile, challenging and a rewarding journey at the end! … Now we are considering to further expand our collaboration with AXEL HOTELS  

with our other hotels possibly in different destinations in Greece… It is obvious and self-explanatory, why we so quickly thinking seriously to expand… 

The Keyword is Success and a Win-Win long standing human and at the same time professional collaboration! …