Hyatt has entered into a franchise agreement with Thera Island Suites, owners of Magma Resort Santorini, managed by Athens-based Swot Hospitality. Expected to open in 2022 in time for the summer season, the hotel will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt as the first Hyatt-affiliated resort in the Greek islands, comprising 59 guestrooms including 24 suites. The signing underscores Hyatt’s strategy to grow its brand footprint in the leisure and independent collection segments across key European leisure destinations.

Magma Santorini will resemble a traditional Cycladic dwelling by incorporating a sustainable yet modern exterior design that fuses the lava-made and stone elements with the island’s ambience. All guestrooms and suites, 46 of which feature private pools and hot tubs, will offer views of the Aegean Sea and Anafi Island.

Designed to incorporate organic shapes from black volcanic stones alongside contrasting, off-white geometric prisms that are reminiscent of Santorini’s volcanic ash, the resort will be inspired by the surrounding traditional dwellings, or pezoules, as well as the terraced land used for winemaking. Its scheme will honour the natural environment while paying homage to Santorini’s underground spaces and cave homes, with a subterranean spa, wellness centre and event facility for up to 250 guests. Elsewhere, Magma will feature semi-outdoor spaces and covered walkways to create balance between the cool interior and warm open air. The design and architectural development will be produced by People and Elastic Architects.

Nestled among traditional old vineyards, the resort will be located on the slopes of Vourvoulos, in close proximity to lava sand beaches on the northeast part of the island and popular cosmopolitan destinations such as Fira and Oia, known for their Instagram-worthy sunsets. The culinary experience, Magma by Spondi, will be curated by a two-starred Michelin chef and honour local agriculture and seasonal ingredients, with the menu pairing signature dishes and other fine dining options with wines from the region’s viticulture.

“We are thrilled to work with Swot Hospitality and are excited to announce The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand’s upcoming entry into the Greek Islands with Magma Resort Santorini,” says Peter Norman, Senior Vice President of Development for EAME & SWA at Hyatt. “The expansion of our luxury and independent collection brands in popular leisure destinations in Europe plays a central role in our growth strategy as we aim to satisfy the increasing leisure demand from travellers looking for story-worthy experiences.”

Stefanos Papakaliatis, Managing Partner at Thera Islands Suites, comments: “We are pleased to be part of the Hyatt family by introducing Unbound Collection to Greece, and the story-worthy experiences that will come with its brand recognition. Together, we aim to set a new benchmark for hospitality in the destination.”

Stelios Koutsivitis, President of Swot Hospitality, explains: “This is a hallmark project for both Swot and the destination. As a team, we are passionate about entering into this franchise agreement with Hyatt and are dedicated to creating an authentic, extraordinary and soulful resort that carries the spiritual DNA of Greece.”