Arena* & Owners Weekend 2022
Crete & Athens

18 May, Arena*
19:00 – 24:00

Day 1-As we gather on the Cretan coastline, we will set the tone for the days to come. With live music as our backdrop, this is an invitation to keep the circle open.

19:00 – 20:30
Opening Ceremony & Well-Being Session by the Sea
Steph Cusack, My Inner Health Club
Suso Sáiz, Musician

21:00 – 24:00
Welcome Reception & Beach Party
The Zenmenn, Band
Zakia, DJ

19 May, Arena*
9:00 – open end

Day 2-A day of inspiring panel conversations, keynote talks, and moments for connection, ending with a lively village dinner beneath the stars.

07:00 – 08:00
Well-Being Session (optional)
Anchored Movement by Julia Kupke / tær

07:00 – 09:00
Breakfast

09:00 – 09:20
Opening Performance
Marina Satti, Musician

09:20 – 09:45
Opening Notes
Jenni Benzaquen & Ksenia Starikova, Design Hotels

09:45 – 10:15
“The Times They Are a-Changin,” Says Nature
Lucas De Man, Founder and CEO, New Heroes

10:15 – 11:00
Can Biodesign Solve Climate Change? New Materials Innovations
Henna Burney, Project Manager & Material Designer, Atelier LUMA
Lucas De Man, Founder and CEO, New Heroes
Nienke Hoogvliet, Founder, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet
Suzanna Laskaridis, Founder & Director, BlueCycle
Katie Treggiden, Journalist, Author & Founder of Making Design Circular

Break

11:30 – 12:00
Innovation Through the Lens of Ancient Cultures
Julia Watson, Designer, Activist, Academic, & Author

12:00 – 12:40
Old Wisdom and Practices as Inspiration for Regenerative Design
Stephen Burks, Designer & Artist
Fernando Laposse, Designer & Artist
Julia Watson, Designer, Activist, Academic, & Author
Clara Le Fort, Lifestyle Editor & Luxury and Sustainability Expert

12:40 – 13:00
Design Against Extinction: How to Save Our Biodiversity
Mitchell Joachim, Cofounder, Terreform ONE

13:00 – 14:30
Lunch on the Beach

14:30 – 14:45
Musical Performance
Adalou, Band

14:45 – 15:15
Commercial Update from Design Hotels
Christian Malcher, Design Hotels

15:15 – 16:15
Big Picture Hospitality: What Is A Sustainable Hotel? A Holistic Approach to a Conscious Hotel
Evguenia Ivara, Cap Karoso
Tara Medina, MUSA
Paul Salmon, Rockhouse Hotel
Agapi Sbokou, Cretan Malia Park
Juliet Kinsman, Sustainability Editor, Condé Nast Traveller

Break

16:45 – 17:15
Technology Outlook: A Post-COVID World for Hospitality and Travel
David Rowan, Founding UK Editor-in-Chief, WIRED

17:15 – 18:00
Making It Real: Tangible Solutions from Impact-Driven Start-Ups
Dorothée Schiesser-Peyrouzet, Founder & President, SapoCycle
Naomi MacKenzie, Cofounder, KITRO
Hannes Schoenegger, Cofounder & CEO, QWSTION & Bananatex®
Rodrigo García González, Cofounder & Co-CEO, Notpla
Karlijn Sibbel, Design Director, Notpla

19:30
Traditional Cretan Village Dinner & Party
Adalou, Band
Omilos Vrakoforon Kritis, Cretan Dance Group
Brass Classe, Band
Veleyle, DJ

20 May, Arena* to Owners Weekend
9:30 – 1:00

Day 3-Guests are welcome to choose from a diverse lineup of interactive sessions on-site and with local communities throughout the island. For those continuing in Athens, we’ll gather and look over the Old and New Athens to kick off the weekend to come.

07:30 – 09:30
Breakfast

08:00 – 09:00
Well-Being Session (optional)
Anchored Meditation by Catherine Pfisterer, tær

09:30 – 09:45
Contemporary Dance Premiere
Escapades by Markella Manoliadi

09:45 – 10:10
Circle Forward: New Member Hotels

10:30 – 14:30
Breakout Sessions On-Site and Off-Site

On-Site
The Future of Well-Being
Why Go Zero-Waste? An Interactive Sustainability Session
Innovation Through Hotel Technology
What’s Next for Digital and PR?

Off-Site
Antonis Farsaris’s Bakery
Kritsa Women’s Cooperative
Phāea Farmers
Sculpture Garden at Minos Beach Art Hotel

14:30 – 16:00
Farewell Lunch

14:45 – 15:15
Transfer to Heraklion International Airport

17:55 – 18:45
Flight from Heraklion to Athens
Aegean Airlines - A3319 G
(Transfers provided to Perianth Hotel, NEW Hotel, Periscope, Fresh Hotel, and AthensWas)

21:30 – 01:00
Welcome Cocktail Beneath the Stars at Perianth Hotel
2, Limpona Street, Athina 105 60
Chris Kontos, DJ
(Guests to arrange own transportation)

21 May, Owners Weekend
8:00 – open end

Day 4-Through mindful walking, exclusive tours, and inspiring talks, we get to know the contemporary Athens through its emerging creative and design scene.

08:00 – 08:30
Transfers provided from Perianth Hotel, NEW Hotel, Periscope, Fresh Hotel, and AthensWas
(If you are not staying at one of these properties, please meet us at Monastery Kaisariani at 8:30 or email us if you would like to join a transfer from one of our hotels.)

08:30 – 10:15
Nature & Nurture Meditation Walk and Breakfast Picnic at Mount Hymettus

10:20 – 11:00
Transfers provided to Perianth Hotel, NEW Hotel, Periscope, Fresh Hotel, and AthensWas

12:00 – 16:00
Open Doors: Private Studio & Workshop Walking Tours in the Athens City Center and at Piraeus Harbor
(Please find your personalized meeting point and schedule in an email sent on 20 May.)

14:30 – 16:00
Lunch at Paleo and Lsandsia
(Transfers provided for those at Lsandsia. Guests at Paleo will be guided to the next destination on foot.)

16:50 – 18:30
Exclusive Preview and Talks at Objects of Common Interest & LOT Office for Architecture

Greece Reimagined: An Emerging Hub for Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship 
Talks & Presentations by:
Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Tourism
Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens
Nikolaos Komineas, Mayor of Astypalea
Theodoros Gavriilidis, Chief Investment Office, Lamda Development SA
Thomas Douzis, Founder and CEO at Ergon Foods
Thanos Geramanis, Partner and COO at Blueground 
Moderators:
Panagiotis Karampinis, Managing Director Endeavor Greece 
Costantza Sbokou, Co-CEOs at Phāea Resorts, Chairwoman Endeavor Greece

18:30 – 19:00
Transfers provided to Perianth Hotel, NEW Hotel, Periscope, Fresh Hotel, and AthensWas

21:00
Dinner & Drinks at The Line
Jamie Tiller, DJ
Agathodemonos 37, Orestou 1, Athina 118 53
(Guests to arrange own transportation)

22 May, Owners Weekend
11:00 – 14:00

Day 5-We close our journey with a final meal together. Guests are welcome to stay on and explore Athens with the help of our curated city guide.

11:00 – 14:00
Closing Brunch at NEW Hotel, Art Lounge
Filellinon 16, Athina 105 57
(Guests to arrange own transportation)