Pandrossos Hotel in Paros, a historic hotel in Parikia since 1926, celebrates a century of hospitality and island memories.
A century of hospitality rooted in Parikia
In Parikia, where summer leaves its imprint on whitewashed courtyards, narrow lanes and the harbour, Pandrossos has long held its own place in the memory of the island. Since 1926, the historic hotel in Parikia has been a landmark of Paros and its evolution, welcoming generations of visitors and witnessing the transformation of the island over the decades. This year, Pandrossos celebrates a century of hospitality.
Overlooking Parikia Bay and just a few minutes from the heart of the town, Pandrossos has preserved its character as a hotel deeply woven into the everyday life of the island. Its recent distinction as the European Historic Hotel Restaurant 2025, presented at the 22nd CEUCO Congress, adds another chapter to its long history.
The centenary of Pandrossos was marked with an anniversary celebration that brought together people and stories from different eras. On Saturday, September 19, guests whose lives and journeys are closely connected with Paros, hospitality professionals, local representatives and official guests gathered at Pandrossos, in the same place that has been part of everyday life in Parikia for decades.
Archive material from the hotel’s early years brought back faces, moments and images from another era, shedding light on the first chapters of Pandrossos’ story. Memory gave way to celebration, as the sounds of the violin met DJ sets, while the evening culminated in fireworks, tsambouna, toubeleki and traditional dancers from Paros.
A new chapter for Pandrossos in Paros
A century of history is not only about what came before, but also about what lies ahead. The next chapter of Pandrossos was at the heart of the anniversary evening, through the speeches and greetings of those, who came to honour the occasion.
The evening opened with a welcome address by Paros Mayor Konstantinos Bizas, followed by a greeting from Andreas Fiorentinos, Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization.
Particularly engaging were the speeches by Andreas Kontomichalos of Grand Aegean Hotel Management and Kokona Gastrobar, who spoke about the hotel’s revival, and Takis Apostolopoulos, who shared childhood memories of Pandrossos. Through his recollections, families and personalities who played a lasting role in the everyday life of the hotel came vividly back to life.
Carlos Martin Cosme, President of the European Council of Gastronomy and Oenology of CEUCO, also joined the celebration and addressed the guests.
The speeches were followed by honorary awards presented to the official guests, while a particularly significant moment came with the special recognition of the Kontomichalos family, receiving the distinguished honour of CEUCO.
For the centenary celebration, Pandrossos once again became a meeting point for people connected with different aspects of life on the island. From local government and tourism to culture, entrepreneurship and institutions, the occasion brought together figures who have their own place in the contemporary history of Paros.
Among them were Father Emmanuel of the Church of Zoodochos Pigi, former Minister and former Mayor of Paros Giannis Ragkousis with his wife, independent MP for Trikala Marina Kontotoli, Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Nikolaos Papaefstathiou, Attica Regional Deputy Governor for Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Land Policy Theodoros Koutsoyannopoulos, Deputy Mayor of Culture of the Municipality of Paros Anna Kagkani Kortianou, Paros Municipal Councillor and head of the Popular Rally of Paros Thanasis Marinopoulos, President of the Paros Hoteliers Association Mania Abatzi, Head of the Parikia Police Department Serafeim Birdas, Head of the Naoussa Police Department Thomas Katsiamitas, Commander of the Paros Port Authority Andreas Lykoudis, Head of the Paros Fire Brigade Dimitris Tolis and Efthymios Kydonieus, member of the ecclesiastical council of the Holy Shrine of Panagia Ekatontapiliani in Paros.
The celebration was also attended by members of the Paros business community, representatives of tourism businesses and cultural associations, as well as hospitality professionals whose own journeys have been connected with the island and, in their own way, with the history of Pandrossos.
The evening was hosted by Konstantinos Mouzakis, President of the Acropolis Chef’s Club of Attica.
A century after it first opened its doors, Pandrossos looks to the future with a history deeply intertwined with Paros and its evolution over time. The hotel’s new chapter becomes part of this long journey, with the aim of preserving the enduring value of hospitality while continuing to evolve alongside the island.
The anniversary evening was supported by Campari and Cava Ragousis as sponsors.
