WHEN YOU played Monopoly as a child, did you go all out to buy the hotels? They did seem very expensive, but it was vital to own at least one, then you could make a killing any time your little brother landed on your property.
Real hotels operate in much the same way, except it’s no board game, and certainly not one without risks.
I wanted to talk to a hotel owner, but not one from any of the big, sleek five-star establishments with huge overheads and staff levels whose populations would rival those of a small town, no I wanted to find out what is was like running a family-owned establishment, a place where everyone mucked in to serve the often demanding needs of their guests.
The New Olympus Hotel in Paphos opened its doors and its 22 bedrooms to the public during the early fifties; then, it was seen as a monument to a new way of thinking, if the old photographs taken at the time are anything to go by, with commercial travellers being the most frequent customers; and, from what one can gather, there was always a bit of partying going on, even in the bleak years after 1974.
George and Louise Georgiou took over the hotel in 2002. Why?
‘Well, George had for years run bars and cafés,” said English-born Louise. “Over the years, he became a bit disillusioned with the sort of tribal warfare you get in the bar business. Some competitor would start a price war over cocktails and all hell would break loose over this sort of thing.
“Eventually George decided enough was enough. He still wanted to work in the tourist business but didn’t want to be in competition with other people. He just wanted to do a good job and be that little bit different by offering a quality reasonably priced product.”
How did they get the finances needed to renovate what was then, a rather old-fashioned establishment in need of much tender loving care?
“A bank loan the size of which would stun you at fifty paces is the answer, and then about 18 months ago we met with a marvellous English couple, Mary and Tony Hopkins, and they came in as our business partners. Since then, we have been able to move along at a decent pace, renewing and refurbishing as and when we can afford it.
“Just as we get something finished, another thing happens, then we need to concentrate on that. For example, we are slowly trying to fit new bathrooms in all the rooms, there are existing facilities but they need to be replaced, so that’s a massive job.”
How do four people divide their time as far as labour is concerned?
“We all work to our own skills, George my husband is the chef, but he can also change a tap, paint, care for the garden, clean the swimming pool and deal with some of the beurocracy involved in the tourist business.
“Tony is also a good chef, and will happily muck in when needed with all sorts of work, including a keen appreciation of all things electrical.
“Mary helps with the books and the guests and is the perennially cheery face at the breakfast tables. I am general dog’s body, but tend to deal direct with bookings, marketing and organising functions like weddings.”
But how bad is the bureaucracy compared to battling price wars on bar street?
“Worse, but at least it’s something we can try and solve ourselves. With our entry into the EU, there has been a huge amount of new amendments with regard to running a hotel. Fine for those who are the big boys in the business, but unfortunately, a small family-run hotel like ourselves suffers badly, as we don’t suddenly have the money to accommodate all the changes demanded of us.
“Not a week goes by without someone coming to inspect us. At the end of the visit, they always tell us to do something, which at one extreme is positively detrimental to the atmosphere of the place and, on the other, so silly we cannot often comprehend where the thinking is coming from.
“It’s certainly not always in the best interests of our guests, but one thing is for sure it always costs us money.”
So, what are the main qualities need by small hotel owners?
“We all deal directly with the guests from the minute they arrive till the time they leave; so this is not a job, it’s a way of life; your life is the hotel, as are the people who come to stay here.
“You have to have a constant personality, there’s absolutely no room for moody owners, you must have a calm unflappable demeanour, a winning smile, patience, and above all a desire to make guests feel at home; these are the essentials to becoming a hotelier.”
There must be moments in dealing with the public when the ‘winning smile’ must wither somewhat…
“‘We have had our moments, everything from folk trying to smuggle extra people into their bedrooms, guests who feel its perfectly okay to book three double rooms and then not turn up, and with only 22 rooms that’s an expensive joke, which we pay for, especially during the busy season. Then there are those who also think it’s fun to sneak out at 6 am and not pay their bill, or decide that they want to change their rooms at 1am in the morning, but that’s all in the book writ large for any aspiring hotel owner to learn about.
“We are after all dealing with a huge range of different types of people but on the whole I would say that 98 per cent of our guests are just lovely and are no trouble at all; it’s only the tiny few that make our smile slip.”
And their advice to anyone wanting to emulate their style of hostelry?
“Do your homework, make sure you are offering what the customer wants, don’t scrimp on important things like comfortable beds; all our rooms for example are fitted with Gevorest beds and I cannot tell you how many guests compliment us on the quality of their sleep. Give them home-cooked food, simple but honest, don’t make the mistake of trying to compete with the five-star hotels; we don’t have room service, Jacuzzis, butlers, or digital TVs but we do have a heart, and a commitment to serve our guests well, and where else can one stay in a nice clean comfortable double room for under £20 with breakfast, and always a winning smile to greet you over your cornflakes?”
n New Olympus Hotel and restaurant, 12, Byron Street, Paphos, 26-932020, 99-643921
www.newolympus.com.cy
