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As founders and house owners of Banyan Tree Holdings, Ho Kwon Ping and Claire Chiang put a premium on creating high quality employees.
A basic instance of that is Magda Vlassi, a pleasant waitress at their luxurious Angsana Resort and Spa on the Greek island of Corfu, the primary European property within the Banyan portfolio.
Ho Kwon Ping and Claire Chiang. Picture by Columbia Hillen
Inside hours of arriving at this luxurious property going through the Ionian Sea, Magda realized about my companion’s love of kumquats, the scrumptious fruit that grows abundantly on the island, and promptly provided to pay a go to to her uncle’s orchard, fill a bag and ship it on her time off.
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Such a selfless gesture past the decision of responsibility displays the distinctive significance the hard-working Asian couple place upon employees coaching at their many resorts and spas in Asia, America, Africa and the Center East together with Thailand, China, Mexico, Malaysia and the Maldives.
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At Angsana, their philosophy appears to be working, pleasant, environment friendly service being one of many highlights of our three-night keep there.
The resort affords 159 rooms and suites plus 37 non-public pool villas.
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Our lodging was in one of many latter, a spacious, two-floor villa going through the Ionian Sea. It featured an outside plunge pool and sun-beds, a ground-floor lounge with armchairs, couch, a big desk and a big-screen TV, plus a bed room and toilet. Upstairs was the identical, with a big balcony with tender armchairs. The general decor was fashionable with unique parts similar to vases, ceramic plates and different artisan decorations.
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Occupying a big stretch of land on the shoulder of a hill overlooking the ocean on the east facet of the island, the resort’s fundamental constructing is fashionable, with pale stone and darkish wooden, and unique artwork, sculpture and rugs.
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There’s definitely no scarcity of rest choices on the resort, together with a non-public seashore; a tranquil infinity pool with clear views alongside the rugged shoreline and cozy cushioned lounge chairs; a 25-meter inside pool; and small non-public walk-in swimming pools fronting the resort’s villas.
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Beside the inside pool, separate services for women and men function saunas, jacuzzis and steam-rooms. An in depth fitness center incorporates a wide range of gear.
I additionally took full benefit of the resort’s spa the place I loved a full physique therapeutic massage supplied by expert therapist Konstantina utilizing oils of basil, lemon and ylang ylang. This award-winning spa affords panoramic views overlooking the indented shoreline each from the therapy rooms and the post-treatment rest room, with supervisor, Litsa, offering me with flavourful tea with honey.
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Eating at Angsana can also be a delight, with a number of eating places to select from. The resort may also organise non-public waterfront eating beneath the celebs
Conventional Corfiot dishes are served at Sofrito with a menu starting from native seafood similar to bream, octopus and squid to meat specialties together with the long-lasting moussaka.
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We dined right here on our first of three evenings and loved a shock bonus, stay accompaniment by two musicians enjoying Greek folks melodies on bouzouki and guitar.
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For one thing completely completely different, and a nod to the Asian origins of Banyan Tree Holdings, is Koh restaurant, which serves a mixture of fashionable Japanese fusion delicacies with sushi and different Far Jap dishes.
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Our expertise at Botrini’s fine-dining restaurant, named after Michelin-starred chef Ettore Botrini, was a memorable one, that includes appetizers of duck and truffle pappardelle and mains comprising succulent milk beef cheek and fried croaker fish.
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Other than the meals, an indicator of Botrini’s is its well-stocked cellar. I counted 22 pages of wines, each Greek and plenty of different nations together with Hungary, France and Italy, in addition to a wide range of champagnes.
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To prime off a night, take pleasure in a cocktail at Vertigo, the lodge’s roof-top bar.
Comfort can also be a key ingredient for selecting Angsana as a vacation spot. It is just seven miles from the airport and 9 from Corfu city.
