Greek expectations
Greek expectations
Blending luxury and wellbeing in a stunning Cretan resort, Minos Palace aims to help guests live longer, happier lives, starting with sound nutrition. Jim Banks explores why Olis and Xenex were the partners of choice.
The Minos Palace Resort sits in a truly idyllic setting. Located on a private peninsula on the coast of Crete, Greece, it is a modern-day sanctuary offering guests 360° sea views and cutting-edge innovations in wellbeing. A luxury, adultsonly destination, its bespoke design enhances the beauty of the surrounding landscape while offering guests everything needed for a transformative experience for their mental and physical health.
At the heart of this experience is the resort’s brand-new Nao Spa, a longevity-focused wellness facility with eight treatment rooms. Here, guests can enjoy evidence-based treatments that combine the best of ancient healing practices with modern diagnostic treatments. The spa is built on a data-driven approach that emphasizes nutrition, sleep, movement and self-mastery. The facility includes a brain gym, cryo chamber, meditation spaces, vibroacoustic loungers, an infrared sauna, a vitality pool, hot and cold plunge baths, a photobiomodulation therapy room, a retail boutique, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, and a sensory tunnel experience.
“The resort’s setting, on a secluded private peninsula, gives it a rare sense of place – it feels like an island within an island,” says general manager Stratos Patsakis. “This natural isolation creates an atmosphere of peaceful exclusivity, offering uninterrupted sea views from nearly every corner of the property,” he adds. “The Nao longevity hub, which lies at the heart of the resort, is designed to inspire a true lifestyle evolution,” he adds. “Through diagnostics and personalized guidance, Nao optimizes not only the body and mind, but also daily habits, empowering guests to lead longer, happier lives. This soulful approach, grounded in science, delivers personalized programs that nurture deep renewal, selfdiscovery, and connection – both with oneself and the world around.”
A high-performance kitchen designed for efficiency, functionality, and ergonomics
A shared commitment to wellbeing and sustainability
You are what you eat
No wellness resort can truly succeed without careful attention to nutrition, which is the foundation of a healthy body. Dining is therefore acknowledged as an essential part of the wellbeing journey. “Our foodservice is designed to support more than 200 guests daily, across two restaurants and two signature bars, with each outlet offering a distinct culinary experience rooted in health, sustainability, and Cretan authenticity,” says Patsakis. “The Nao team works closely with our culinary team to ensure all menus are nutrient-rich and scientifically aligned with long-term wellness.”
Chefs use locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to craft dishes that are both nourishing and delicious, embracing plantbased options, farm-to-table meats, artisanal cheeses, and Cretan olive oil. Processed foods are kept to a minimum, while micronutrients, superfoods, and bio-based produce feature heavily in the resort’s health-forward approach to dining. The foodservice is deeply influenced by a commitment to wellbeing and sustainability, both of which are integral to the resort’s identity.
Food is meant to nourish, heal and energize. The Cretan diet, which is similar to the Mediterranean diet and recognized for its health benefits, forms the foundation of the menus. Crafting nourishing dishes depends not only on ingredients, but also the kitchen’s infrastructure.
Kitchen cooperation
“With the full renovation of Minos Palace – and its repositioning as a holistic wellbeing destination – our operational requirements evolved significantly, particularly in the kitchen,” says Patsakis. “We needed a reimagined layout that could seamlessly support a demanding, health-focused culinary operation. In collaboration with Xenex and Olis, we successfully designed and implemented a high-performance kitchen that balances functionality, ergonomics, and efficiency.”
Olis, a leading manufacturer of high-quality kitchen equipment, is represented in Greece by its long-time distribution partner, Xenex. “Together, using advanced equipment, streamlined workflows, and sustainabilityfocused practices, they were able to create a space that could deliver an ambitious gastronomic vision. We provide very reliable equipment with more precise temperature control than our competitors,” says Thomas Fabris, sales director for Olis, which supplied the full cooking suite, including induction hobs, fryers, and grills.
“Our equipment is also easy to maintain. For example, our new plancha has a surface that is not welded, so it can be removed to clean or change parts. “Every kitchen is based on the needs of the chefs and the menu, and the equipment must also look good,” he adds. “More important, however, we can fit equipment together and attach each part in a modular way, so that it is all easy to clean, has the same depth and the same height, and leaves no space for fat to stick and harden. It is all modular, so you can change anything out from the cooking block.”
HERE AND NAO – The Nao Spa’s inspiration is drawn from water as the source of all life and its ability to adapt. The spa itself has been conceived as a hub for cultivating holistic longevity, and its evidence-based approach to targeting the 12 hallmarks of aging – from cellular senescence to mitochondrial dysfunction – is built on four core pillars: nutrition, sleep, selfmastery and movement. Of these four elements, nutrition comes first. At its core is the typical Mediterranean diet, built on daily intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant-based fats, with some fresh fish, poultry, beans, legumes and eggs. Moderate portions of dairy products are also included, but the amount of red meat is limited. “Contemporary nutritional science plays a key role,” says Patsakis. “Our dishes are designed to be rich in micronutrients and antioxidants, low in processed elements, and inclusive of all dietary needs. Superfoods, organic products, and plant-based alternatives are thoughtfully incorporated to reflect a growing global demand for conscious, health-centered cuisine. Our foodservice offering is shaped by the desire to create culinary experiences that promote balance, longevity, and happiness, in harmony with the natural surroundings and the guest’s individual journey.” “Moving forward, this project will serve as a benchmark – both in design and execution – for future renovations and new developments within our portfolio, further strengthening our reputation as leaders in hospitality and gastronomy.”
We have a strong relationship, and Olis always gives us the support we need. Even in difficult situations, we always find a solution.
Partners in time
Every project presents challenges, but the more experience your partners have, the easier they are to overcome. “Xenex has been in the industry for 55 years, and we have represented Olis in Greece since the late 1990s,” says Emil Kioulpapas, general manager of Xenex. “We have a strong relationship, and Olis always gives us the support we need. Even in difficult situations, we always find a solution.”“For this project, it was a very natural process,” he adds. “We used Olis equipment to upgrade infrastructure in the kitchen, because its equipment is very robust, up-to-date and modern – plus we can support it well, which reduces downtime.” Just as combining the four key pillars – nutrition, sleep, movement and self-mastery – can improve wellness, so complementary skills among partners can deliver optimum results. Working with mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence, Minos Palace, Olis and Xenex have delivered a luxury experience that goes beyond mere dining, to enhance and even prolong lives.
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Founded in 1972, Olis is renowned for its innovative approach to technology and design
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In 2021, Olis launched a full range of 4.0-connected products for the HoReCa sector, powered by the Olis Cloud System
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