PHOS Completes Its Inaugural Chapter at Parīlio, Paros
Three days of light, presence and connection in the heart of the Cyclades — and a community that arrived as strangers and left as something much more. The journey continues at Vedema, Santorini, October 1–3, 2027
For three unforgettable days, Paros slowed down, and so did everyone who came to it. PHOS (Presence Heals Our Senses), the experiential platform created by Empiria Group, has completed its inaugural chapter at Parīlio, October 2–4, welcoming guests from around the world to a gathering of movement, conversation, creativity, local culture and shared rituals. What began as an idea has become a living, breathing community, and we are overflowing with gratitude.
Created by Empiria Group in partnership with Design Hotels and Travelgems, and held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, PHOS was conceived as a recurring, place-rooted exploration of contemporary wellbeing. It draws on Greek cultural intelligence, on the wisdom of ancient Greece and the enduring traditions of the Cyclades, which still hold remarkable lessons for how we live, connect and care for ourselves today.
The first chapter unfolded around Light, Presence and Connection: light not simply as something we see, but as awareness, stillness, alignment and emotional clarity. Breathwork with Sukkhadas and movement with Themistoklis Pavlis awakened body and mind. On the final morning, globally recognised trainer and mental-health advocate Kelsey Wells led a mindful, strength-based movement experience, combining workout with intention-setting, mindfulness and gratitude practices. Mindfulness expert and Travelgems founder Niki Smirni guided the opening, the intention-setting and the closing gratitude rituals that held the three days like a warm embrace.
Culture and creativity beat at the very heart of the experience. The Art of Living Well panel, with Dr. Evy Papadopoulou, Curator of Antiquities at the Museum of Cycladic Art, Dr. Polina Ellis, jewellery designer, archaeologist and fine artist, and Wojciech Ogłaza, Director of Business Development and Community Engagement at Design Hotels, and moderated by Kalia Konstantinidou, opened a heartfelt conversation about how Greek traditions can still illuminate contemporary life. In a Cycladic weaving workshop led by Eirini Xanthioti of Studio Araneida, participants discovered the quiet joy of making through touch. A wine and cheese tasting with local producers at Paros Farming Community celebrated the island’s generosity, and Cycladic Eyes, a Polaroid walk through Naoussa, invited everyone to see Paros, and perhaps themselves, from a completely new perspective.
And then there was the table, the oldest Greek ritual of all. Community dinners at Monastiri Restaurant and at Parīlio’s Mr. E placed the simple act of gathering at the heart of PHOS, with laughter, stories and shared plates stretching long into the Aegean night.
Across the three days, something quietly extraordinary happened. People who arrived as strangers found themselves breathing together, moving together, laughing together and, in the end, holding one another in gratitude. The island itself became part of the conversation. That feeling of belonging is the true essence of PHOS, and it will remain at the center of everything that follows.
“PHOS began with a belief that place has the power to shape how we feel, connect and understand ourselves. What became clear in Paros was the importance of experiencing that collectively. The conversations continued beyond the program and relationships formed naturally, and even the island became an active part of that exchange. We are deeply moved by what was created here, and by every person who trusted us with their presence. Ancient Greece understood that wellbeing is not something we chase but something we practise, in the body, at the table and in community, and the Cyclades have carried that wisdom in their light, their rhythms and their people for thousands of years. PHOS invites us to listen to it again. PHOS is designed to evolve with each destination, carrying its core values forward while allowing the character of each place to determine what comes next,” said Kalia Konstantinidou, Group Executive Officer, Empiria Group.
The inaugural gathering at Parīlio marks the beginning of an ongoing PHOS series across Empiria Group destinations. PHOS continues its journey to Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, in Santorini from October 1–3, 2027, where a new landscape, history and cultural context will open fresh ways of exploring presence, connection and the art of living well.
Globally recognised trainer and mental-health advocate Kelsey Wells led a mindful,
strength-based movement experience, combining workout with intention-setting,
mindfulness and gratitude practices.
Image credit: Empiria Group
PHOS CHAPTER ONE WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
Under the Auspices of: Greek National Tourism Organisation
In Partnership with: Design Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy
Retreat Facilitator: Travelgems
Founding and Strategic Sponsor: Eurobank
Official Transportation Sponsor: Seajets
Official Air Transportation Sponsor: Hoper
Culinary & Wine Partners: Paros Farming Community, Monastiri Beach Bar & Restaurant
Visual Partner: The VScope
Media Sponsors: Harper’s Bazaar, Shape.gr
Supporters: Coffeeco Upcycle, Symbeeosis, Zagori Natural Mineral Water, Cleanit