Maria Strati: Tales of a travel collector

Life in Italy, years spent on the French Riviera, and an impressive travel itinerary…

Maria Strati is a true citizen of the world; a journeyer by nature, whose name is now synonymous with well-established hospitality brands. The experience marked on her CV is sure to impress any hotel connoisseur, and so is the multitude of stamps on her passport.

Maria’s love for traveling started at a young age, when she began discovering destinations in and out of Greece. Despite being a frequent visitor of the island of Ios and her beloved Ios Palace, the young vacationer would always add Mykonos and Santorini to her repertoire, reserving winter for ski trips at St. Moritz, Kitzbühel and Chamonix, and tours of the most iconic cities of Europe.

Her initial contact with the high standards of event organizing was when, as a university student, the aspiring hotel manager had the opportunity to work in the kitchens of the Mosimann’s catering company, which led her to cater VIP events at Buckingham Palace, as well as polo games with the Prince, Arabian Nights and celebrations with distinguished companies such as Louis Vuitton and Jaguar.

Hospitality has always been deeply ingrained in Maria’s life, so, naturally, she chose a Bachelors Degree in International Hospitality & Tourism Management, in Surrey. Her next step was a traineeship at Cavalieri Hilton in Rome; this led to a successful 4,5 year working relationship, and her evolvement in hospitality management.

Life in Italy seemed like an adventure; hard work balanced with a multitude of opportunities to journey around the country, which became Maria’s second home. Her career blossomed in Cavalieri, and so did her love for hospitality. After 8 years abroad, it seemed nearly impossible that this restless traveler would ever return to Greece; until she met Tina Daskalantonaki, and felt, in her own words, “love at first sight”.

During the self-described “magical years” at King George Palace, she hosted Madonna, Beyoncé, Enrique Iglesias, Christian Louboutin, Woody Allen, Daniel Day Lewis, Marc Antony and 50 Cent, among others. At the same time, this restless traveler’s thirst for knowledge led her to pursue a certificate in public relations from the Hellenic American Union. Her next step was taken in Èze’s Hôtel Hermitage, where for a year life acquired a stunning French Riviera backdrop.

Now that this globetrotter’s return to Greece is permanent, she travels regularly from her home in Athens to Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe and the Middle East as Director of Development for Luxury Hotel Partners. Her schedule can involve Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Croatia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, or Serbia, and after the end of every project she may be found with good friends in France or across the world in San Diego. A notable detour has been to India, where she toured properties of the Oberoi Group, further strengthening her love for hospitality.

Her next career move is as manager for Aqua Blu boutique on the island of Kos until 2015, before continuing on to managing the Poseidonion Grand Hotel in Spetses, her home to this day. Never content with standing still, Maria also completed a Master Certificate in Hospitality Management from Cornell University in 2018.

A diverse collection of wonderful memories is now in her portfolio: from sailing in Capri and a photoshoot as a model for Katia Delatola for Vogue, to an invitation to a fashion show in Goa. Maria has built a global network of people who she can now call friends, with whom she has created unforgettable experiences in a multitude of destinations. 

The check-ins on her map of memories seem to never end, and she says herself that it’s easier to remember which destinations she hasn’t traveled to, than the ones she has. This jet-setter adds a few places to this list every year, taking the time to visit and get acquainted with new destinations. 

Maria says that she can be quite unpredictable when on the road, since, apart from visits to museums and cultural points of interest, she makes an effort to “live like a local”. Her international friends always show her hidden gems and destinations off the beaten track, where she can experience the authentic flavour of each location. 

As this hospitality connoisseur often says, she feels truly blessed for the wonderful life she has lived and the wide range of experiences she has gained from her lengthy travels. A notable highlight was her solo visit to Thailand, where she stayed at Como Point Yamu in Phuket for a week of thorough relaxation and flavour immersion at impeccable restaurants. 

Hotel scouting is a vital part of her routine on each journey to a new country. She makes an effort to stay or visit multiple properties on every trip. She prefers the homeliness of boutique hotels and the aristocratic beauty of more classic establishments, but also maintains a unique appreciation for a more modern, “design hotel” aesthetic.This enables her to gather a variety of different hospitality and culinary experiences along the way, since she always lends a gastronomical approach to each of her hotel visits. For this world traveler, discovering the local cuisine can mean anything from eating street food at an outdoor market to dining at a Michelin star restaurant. 

Her favorite hotel? The list is long. She prefers boutiques, which offer a feeling of homeliness and warmth, but she also enjoys the luxury of classical establishments like the King George Palace or the Poseidonion Grand Hotel. From Villa D’Este in Lake Como and La Posta Vecchia in Rome, to Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany and Εsencia in Tulum, this journeyer has many favorites around the globe. 

She also  has a place in her heart for the  Coqui Coqui Papholchac Coba Residence & Spa in Mexico, Mandarin Oriental in Milan, and Wildflower Hall Shimla, a member of the Oberoi Group, which is a former residence of Lord Kitchener in India, perched at a breathtaking altitude of 2.500 meters. 

As for a favorite destination, she finds it difficult to choose just one. Maybe one of the few places she has yet to see; Australia, South America, or Japan. She will be sure to let us know once she’s added them to her list. Maria has just completed her 5th and last season at the illustrious Poseidonion Grand Hotel, pursuing an online certificate in Business International Relations and Political Economy from the London School of Economics. She has already visited her favourite hotel in Santorini, Astra Suites for a week of relaxation at the end of the season and planning her next trip to Singapore and Bali, which is sure to be unpredictable as always.

Credits: 
Images: Photoshoot by Studio Reskos, Maria’s Strati Personal Photo Collection 
Photoshoot Venue: Grand Hyatt Athens 
Photoshoot Outfits: Max Mara Boutique Athens