Sales and marketing director at Dolphin Capital Partners – investors in Amanzoe, Nikki Beach Resort and One & Only Kea Island – Katerina Katopis spends her working hours jetting around the world visiting five-star hotels. Here, the Silver Executive Club Member talks to The Club about marathon training on the road, her favourite summer holiday destinations, and how she defines luxury

Where do you spend most of your time?
I live between Athens, Zurich and London, but I love the sun so in summer I spend most of my time in in Greece, where I’m from. I enjoy being in London, I have a home here, but I try to hold my meetings at different hotels. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is fantastic, as is the way that they’ve executed their new design. If I’m heading for lunch with friends, I go to La Petite Maison, The Wolseley or Zuma.

Favourite city destination?
I recently went to Lisbon – it’s the coolest place I’ve been in Europe. It’s so much fun, the people are great, and it’s very reasonably priced. I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz and loved it because of its rooftop running track – great for my marathon training: I’ve run seven marathons in the past three years. I think the best way to explore a city is to run around it.

Where do you go for your summer holiday?
There’s no place like Greece. I always return to Porto Heli, a seaside town in the southeast where I love exploring the area by boat. Rent a small boat or take a water taxi and you’ll find that, even in summer, there are small, protected bays where you can relax in privacy. Take the ten-minute ferry to Spetses, an island across from Porto Heli, where you can visit the stately homes of historic seafaring captains and take a turn on a horse-drawn carriage because cars aren’t permitted. It’s wonderfully romantic. 

Where’s your favourite hotel?
I love Aman hotels as a brand, I’ve been going there for 22 years. Among my favourites are the Amangalla in Sri Lanka and the Aman Tokyo (pictured below). Their use of space is outstanding, combining modern amenities with traditional ryokan elements. From a resort perspective, the best place I’ve been to is Laucala Island in Fiji – it’s my most instagrammed photograph and one of the last paradises on earth.

Which destination is next on your list?
I’m heading to Hawaii for the wedding of friends, but Antarctica and Easter Island are the next ‘big trips’ I want to take.

How do you tell the difference between a good and a great hotel? 
I look out for basic things that make the stay feel as if you’re at home. Lots of plugs and USB ports around the room is a must, alongside ample closet space so that ladies can hang long dresses. It’s wonderful to be remembered when you return to a hotel, and to be welcomed by name. Another thing I look for are proper sized amenities, not tiny tubes that you need to squeeze to get the shampoo out. Thoughtful gadgets are also great – the coolest I’ve ever seen is the ‘nail polish dryer’ in my room at the Peninsula Shanghai.

What’s the best thing about being a member of The Club?
The use of lounges, extra luggage and having priority at the airport. I also enjoy the healthy food and lifestyle magazines in the lounge at Heathrow – a rare treat not often found. And when I go on holiday, I get to spend my Avios on Reward Flights to those destinations.

To find out how to get the most out of your Avios click here  

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged Opinion, Travel Tips