All for the love of travel | Kefalonia and Ithaca appeal
Updated Monday 05 October
On Friday 18 September, Storm Ianos hit the southern Ionian islands of Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Ithaca. Categorised as a medicane, Ianos ravaged the islands with winds, rainfall and storm surges unrivalled in strength in recent history.
A state of emergency was declared and a clean up operation is now underway. Power has been restored to nearly all areas and streets cleaned and cleared of debris. Life has begun to return to normality but there is much work to do, especially on Ithaca and in the small community of Assos on Kefalonia, where a rockslide buried cars and cut the village off.
It has been heartbreaking for the islanders to witness this devastation and for us to see such beautiful communities so deeply affected. For Cheryl, Amy, Maria, Lilia and Graeme - our team on the ground - the emotions are raw.
Our hosts at the Apollonia Studios in Assos, the Menegatos family have set up an appeal to raise 50,000 Euros to help fund the clean up effort in the village - £42,476 has been raised to date. A further campaign has been established to raise funds for the island as a whole, with £33,000 raised.
IthacaGreece.com have established an appeal for assistance to help rebuild the lost fishing communities and to repair roads, power cables, to clear debris and to provide much needed water and clothing for affected residents. You can view details and learn about the appeal here.
Sunvil is supporting the relief effort and we know that many of you may wish to contribute too. These islands are jewels, loved by our travellers and our team, and we want to help them recover as soon as possible; this year has already been very difficult due to the reduction in international visitor numbers.
We will continue to update our website with the latest situation and local appeals.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. We know that you, like us, are passionate about Greece and we will send your thoughts and wishes to our partners.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Wright
Rock slide, Assos, Kefalonia
I love Kefalonia sign, Argostoli harbour, Kefalonia
Chris is the Sunvil Group’s managing director and is not only responsible for the overall running of the company, the welfare of its staff, the fabric of the building, the efficient working of its computer systems but also for overseeing and contracting much of the accommodation on the GIC The Villa Collection programme. He is a very hands on managing director, a friend and helper to all, mad on aircraft and indefatigable. Chris joined The Greek Islands Club in 1993, after two years running a scouts’ holiday camp in Wales. He was responsible for maintaining The Club’s sailing boats on Paxos and generally acting as a rep for the villas. Sunvil Inherited Chris on purchasing GIC in 1998 and his abilities were quickly realised. He well deserves the top job.
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We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).
If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.
Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.
Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
Marketing: 020 8758 4731
Required Information
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If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.
Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.
Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
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