Enagron, an eco-tourism business from Crete, draws people from the beach to the mountains
Enagron, an eco-tourism business in the Cretan mountains, was the lifelong dream of a couple who left the city to return to Axos Mylopotamou, the place of their birth. Here they built a residential complex, offering visitors something different to the traditional Greek island beach holiday. Enagron provides not only a relaxing getaway, but also the chance to experience local cookery, craftwork and farming, as well as spectacular views. The business was launched in 2000, but by 2005 it was on the brink of closing. While the couple knew there were people out there who would appreciate Enagron, they had no clear strategy for targeting them. They decided to create a website and used online advertising to target nature-lovers in central and northern Europe. Enagron has been growing ever since. More villas were built, a swimming pool was added, and activities were developed in multiple languages. Enagron is now fully booked for seven months of the year. AdWords literally gave Enagron the “kiss of life”, says Vassilis Papadakis, son of the Founders, now Enagron’s General Manager, who concedes that “the web helped to keep my parents' dream alive and keep the doors of Enagron open.” He believes the web gives them an edge over five-star hotels in Crete. So while Enagron may not be a direct competitor offering-wise, it certainly has the upper hand.
The web helped to keep my parents dream alive and keep the doors of Enagron open.