Empiria Group Introduces Its 2026 Season Across The Cyclades
A new opening in Milos, a second chapter for Istoria in Santorini, and an expanded focus on gastronomy, design, and cultural connection
Istoria, a Member of Design Hotels, Cliff View. Image credit: Empiria Group
Empiria Group returns for the 2026 season with a series of developments across their hotels, continuing to refine and shape their distinct approach to contemporary Greek hospitality. This summer sees the group expand its presence across the Cyclades, with the opening of a new property in Milos, a new chapter for Istoria in Santorini, a deeper focus on gastronomy with the appointment of a new culinary director across the portfolio, as well as new cultural and wellness programming.
From Milos to Santorini to Paros, the 2026 season offers multiple points of entry into this vision: through design, food, wellness, and a deeper, meaningful connection to the islands themselves.
A NEW ARRIVAL IN MILOS: ERÉMA, A MEMBER OF DESIGN HOTELS
This June, Empiria Group will open Eréma in Milos, marking its first presence on the island and further expanding its footprint across Greece’s most sought-after destinations. Set in a prime location just 20 minutes from the port and 12 minutes from Milos Airport, the property was designed by Athens-based ID Laboratorium and draws on the island’s volcanic landscape, with a material palette shaped by stone, marble, and obsidian.
Eréma comprises 41 all-suite accommodations, each with a private pool and uninterrupted panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Two restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a series of open-air communal spaces, along with an Anthologist boutique and customized experiences, round out the offering for guests.
Eréma, a Member of Design Hotels is opening in Milos this Summer.
Image credit: Empiria Group
ISTORIA EXPANDS FROM THE BEACH TO THE CALDERA
In Santorini, Istoria, a member of Design Hotels, enters a new chapter with the opening of Istoria Cliff in Firostefani. While Istoria Beach remains anchored on the sands of Perivolos Beach, the new property reinterprets the brand’s identity within the sculptural landscape of the caldera.
Conceived as a cave-style retreat, Istoria Cliff was Christina’s first home, long before she envisioned and conceived her home on Perivolos beach. Christina, a cosmopolitan wanderer who arrived in Santorini in the early 1970s, fell in love with both the caldera cliffs and the island’s wild southern shores. Her vision, to create a home that honored Santorini’s dual character, lives on in Istoria’s two locations, designed to blend Cycladic tradition with contemporary ease.
With the opening of Istoria Cliff, nine suites and villas pair soft, tactile interiors with panoramic caldera views, while guests retain access to the beach club and facilities of Istoria Beach. With 21 total suites and villas, the result is a dual experience: Santorini from both the water’s edge and above it.
Istoria Expands From Beach to the Caldera with Nine New Suites and Villas.
Image credit: Empiria Group
EMPIRIA’S FIRST IMMERSIVE RETREAT CONCEPT: INTRODUCES PHOS
In Paros, Parīlio, a member of Design Hotels, will host PHOS (Presence Heals Our Senses), Empiria Group’s first immersive retreat concept, developed in partnership with Design Hotels and in collaboration with Travelgems.
Held over three days from October 2–4, 2026, the PHOS retreat unfolds as a multi-sensory celebration where sun,sea, creativity, conversation and community become catalysts for renewal. Through immersive rituals, breathwork, sound healing, movement, creative workshops, cultural conversations and shared dining experiences inspired by ancient Greek communal gatherings, the program extends beyond the hotel into the rhythms of the island.
Conceived as the first in a series of immersive retreats, PHOS reflects Empiria Group’s long-term vision for place-rooted experiences that bring together Greek heritage, contemporary culture, and well-being practices. Designed to recalibrate the senses and foster a deeper sense of presence, the retreat expresses a more intentional approach to hospitality—one that connects guests more meaningfully to themselves and to the destination.
A NEW CULINARY DIRECTION ACROSS EMPIRIA GROUP
This season, Empiria Group also announces the appointment of Yiannis Kioroglou as Culinary Director, overseeing the gastronomic direction across the portfolio, including Cosme and Parīlio in Paros, Mystique in Santorini, and Eréma in Milos.
With a background spanning some of the world’s most sought-after dining destinations, including La Petite Maison in Cannes and La Guérite in Saint Barth, Kioroglou brings a Mediterranean philosophy rooted in simplicity, product integrity, and clarity of flavor. His approach establishes a cohesive culinary language across the group’s destinations, grounded in seasonal produce, and ingredient-led cooking.
The first expression of this vision will debut at Lure on April 24, the signature restaurant at Mystique, where his cooking engages in a broader dialogue between the Cyclades and Southern Italy.
As Culinary Director, Kioroglou will shape future concepts across the portfolio, establishing a unified yet site-specific approach to dining that draws from the landscapes, traditions, and ingredients of each island.
THE VILLAS AT PARĪLIO (FIRST FULL SEASON THIS SUMMER)
Following their debut last season, The Villas at Parīlio enter their first full summer, introducing a more private, residential dimension to the property. Designed by Interior Design Laboratorium, the collection includes 13 villas and two-bedroom suites built from local stone, wood, and stonewashed concrete.
Expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces, private pools, and dedicated service allow for a more secluded stay, while maintaining access to the hotel’s wider facilities. The expansion also includes the new Elios Spa and fitness facilities, reinforcing evolving focus on holistic wellbeing, as the next phase of its wellness offering begins to take shape.
The Villas at Parīlio enter their first full summer in Paros.
Image credit: Empiria Group
FOR FAMILIES: KINSHIP CONTINUES
The recently launched Kinship is Empiria Group’s considered approach to family travel, designed to bring parents and children into shared experiences that are rooted in culture, creativity and connection. It moves beyond the traditional kids club format, offering programming that invites families to engage together through hands-on, meaningful activities shaped by place.
Across Vedema in Santorini and Parīlio in Paros, and now this summer at Eréma in Milos, Kinship unfolds through a series of experiences that draw on local heritage, from mythology lessons, special wellness treatments, as well as lessons in culinary, craft, music and the natural landscape. Each activity is designed to encourage curiosity, participation and a deeper understanding of the destination.
Children are welcomed as active participants, alongside their parents, in a setting that values presence and shared discovery. The intention is to create moments that feel both enriching and memorable, allowing families to connect more deeply with each other and with the environment around them.